Col. Marc J. Sands is the Commander of Space Force Delta 13, Detachment 1, and the senior U.S. Space Force liaison to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. His detachment develops programs and curriculum for the four-year undergraduate regimen leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Space Force.
Col. Sands graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994. He has held numerous operational and staff assignments within the joint, coalition and intelligence communities. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of U.S. and coalition operations and served overseas in Korea, Germany, and Turkey. Col. Sands most recently served as the Director of Staff at Space Operations Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Physics (Space), U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1999 Master of Science, Nuclear Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.
2010 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air Force National Laboratory Technical Fellowship, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1994 – September 1997, Overhead Systems Data Analyst and Program Manager, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2. October 1997 – March 1999, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio September
3. March 1999 – February 2001, Collections Program Officer and Chief, Nuclear Plant Program, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
4. February 2001 – January 2004, Measurement and Signature Intelligence Strategic Analyst, Assistant Director for Central Intelligence for Collections, DCI Staff, Central Intelligence Agency, Va.
5. January 2004 – September 2004, Executive Officer, Assistant DCI for Collections, DCI Staff, Central Intelligence Agency, Va.
6. September 2004 – September 2005, Commander, Detachment 452, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Camp Long, Wonju, South Korea
7. September 2005 – December 2005, Chief, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Joint Intelligence Assessments, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. December 2005 – September 2006, Science and Technology Intelligence Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. September 2006 – December 2006, Chief, WMD-Special Weapons, Multi-National Forces Iraq, Combined Intelligence Operations Center, Baghdad, Iraq
10. January 2006 – August 2007, Warning Intelligence Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. August 2007 – July 2008, Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.
12. July 2008 – July 2009, Deputy Chief, Special Projects Division, Technical Collections, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
13. August 2009 – April 2010, Chief, Irregular Warfare Division, Technical Collections, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
14. April 2010 – April 2011, Director of Operations, 355th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (SHADOW HARVEST), Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
15. April 2011 – January 2012, Acting Director, Treaty Monitoring, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
16. January 2012 – June 20212, Deputy Director, Treaty Monitoring, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
17. June 2012 – June 2013, Principal Systems Integrator, AF Nuclear Weapons Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
18. June 2013 – June 2015, Deputy Chief, Nuclear Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
19. June 2015 – June 2016, National Laboratory Technical Fellow, Oak Ridge National Lab, Tenn.
20. June 2016 – June 2019, Chief, Nuclear Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
21. June 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 39th Weapons System Security Group, Incirlik AB, Turkey
22. June 2020 – June 2021, Chief, Science and Technology Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command–US Northern Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.
23. June 2021 – June 2023, Director of Staff, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Peterson SFB, Colo.
24. June 2023 – Present, Commander, Space Force Delta 13, Detachment 1, and Senior Liaison, Space, Training, and Readiness Command, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
September 2005 – December 2007, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a major
September 2009 – March 2011, Chief Irregular Warfare Division, Defense Intelligence Agency, Patrick SFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel
June 2020 – June 2021, Chief, Science and Technology Division, NORAD-USNORTHCOM, Peterson SFB, Colo., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
NATO – International Security Assistance Force Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 Director of National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction
2010 DIA Director’s Team Award – SHADOW HARVEST
2011 Jabara Award for Airmanship Finalist
2011 Director of National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Award
(Current as of February 2025)