Brian Denaro

Brian Angelo Denaro (born ) is a United States Space Force brigadier general who serves as the commander of the United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific. He previously served as the director of plans and programs of the Space Force and senior military assistant to the under secretary of the Air Force.

Denaro was born and raised in Long Grove, Illinois. He entered the United States Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. An Olmsted Scholar, he studied in Guangzhou, China. In the Air Force, he was a career foreign area officer, serving several intelligence and international affairs assignments in the United States Pacific Command. He commanded the National Air and Space Intelligence Center's Aircraft Analysis Squadron from 2013 to 2015. He then transitioned to the acquisition career field, working on RQ-4 Global Hawk acquisitions before getting assigned at the Space and Missile Systems Center.

In 2021, Denaro transferred to the Space Force, where he served as the first program executive officer space sensing and director of SSC's Space Sensing Directorate. During his tenure, he led the completion of the Space-Based Infrared System. In 2024, he was nominated for promotion to brigadier general.

Early life and education

Denaro was born and raised in Long Grove, Illinois. He finished high school from Stevenson High School. In 2000, he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering. As an Olmsted Scholar, he received an International Master of Business Administration from the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. As part of his professional military education, he also attended the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, and National War College.

Military career

On June 6, 2000, Denaro was commissioned into the United States Air Force after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His first assignment was at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from 2000 to 2003, where he served as a scientific and technical intelligence collection officer with the 315th Intelligence Squadron for two years. After that, he assigned to the Detachment 4, 692nd Information Operations Group as the chief of overt collection. After serving as senior materiel leader, he was promoted as the program executive officer (PEO) for development and director of SMC's Development Corps. Less than a year after, SMC was redesignated as Space Systems Command (SSC) and several organizational changes were implemented. In 2022, was selected to serve as the first PEO for space sensing and director of SSC's Space Sensing Directorate.

In June 2023, Denaro relinquished command of the Space Sensing Directorate and moved to the Pentagon to serve as senior military assistant to the under secretary of the Air Force. As the Space Sensing Directorate director, he led the completion of the Space-Based Infrared System with the operational acceptance of the last satellite. The directorate also developed the medium Earth orbit missile track custody program.

In January 2024, Denaro was nominated for promotion to brigadier general. He was reassigned as the director of plans and programs of the Space Force in July 2024.

Awards and decorations Atwood is the recipient of the following awards: Air & Space Forces Association Lt Gen John W. O'Neil Award (2023)