Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy

Terrence John O'Shaughnessy (born ) is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who previously served as the commander of United States Northern Command and as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Military career O'Shaughnessy was born in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, the son of Terrence O'Shaughnessy, an orthodontist from Cobalt, Ontario. The family moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1968. A 1986 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. His commands included the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Force Base, Japan; the 613th Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. O'Shaughnessy has served as the United States Pacific Command Director of Operations, responsible for joint operations in a region encompassing more than half the globe and 36 nations. O'Shaughnessy's joint experience includes a stint as the Joint Staff J5 Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for Asia where he shaped regional planning and policy in the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia regions, supporting the commanders of United States Pacific Command and United States Central Command. O'Shaughnessy was the Deputy Commander, United Nations Command in Korea; Deputy Commander, United States Forces Korea; Commander, Air Component Command, Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command; and Commander, Seventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea, as well as the commander of Pacific Air Forces. O’Shaughnessy has reportedly had a high-level role at SpaceX's Starshield defense satellite constellation.

According to General Guillot, O'Shaughnessy proposed the SHIELD missile defense system, which stands for Strategic Homeland Integrated Ecosystem for Layered Defense.

Post-military career Since 2021, O'Shaughnessy is employed by SpaceX where he leads government programs.

Education

1986 Distinguished graduate, Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Weapons School Graduate Patch

North American Aerospace Defense Command Badge

United States Northern Command Badge

Effective dates of promotion