Colonel Stephanie Silva is the Commander of Space Force Delta 1, Detachment 1, and the senior U.S. Space Force liaison to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her detachment develops and executes space- minded programs and curriculum for the four-year undergraduate experience leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Space Force.
Colonel Silva graduated and commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004 with an aeronautical engineering degree. She has held various assignments as a flight test engineer, program manager, engineer and cyber officer. She has logged flight hours in the F-15, F-15E and F-16. She also served in U.S. Central Command’s Coalition Coordination Center supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support Mission. She commanded the 707th Communications Squadron conducting space, cyberspace, nuclear and cryptologic operations. Col Silva most recently served as the Division Chief for Low Earth Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit Sensing, providing capability development for space domain awareness, missile warning and missile defense for the Battlespace Awareness Acquisition Delta at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science Degree, Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy
2005 Air and Space Basic Course
2009 Squadron Officer School
2016 Masters, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University
2016 Air Command and Staff College
2024 Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 2005 – Lead AIM-9M/AIM-9X Missile Analyst, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2. January 2008 – Flight Commander, Computer Support Flight, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. June 2009 – Range Instrumentation Program Manager, 388th Range Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
4. June 2011 – Operations Liaison Engineer, 388th Range Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
5. July 2012 – Deputy Regional Director, Directorate of Admissions, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
6. April 2014 – Regional Director, Directorate of Admissions, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
7. August 2014 – Lead Engineer, Battle Control Systems, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
8. August 2016 – Lead Engineer, Wide Area Surveillance, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
9. October 2017 – Deputy Commander, 707th Communications Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
10. Jun 2019 – Commander, 707th Communications Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
11. Dec 2021 – Lead, Ops Integration, Product Support Enterprise, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
12. Jun 2022 – Division Chief, Upgraded Early Warning Radar, Peterson SFB, Colo.
13. Oct 2024 – Division Chief, LEO/MEO Sensing, Peterson SFB, Colo.
14. Jun 2025 – Commander, Delta 1 Detachment 1, Peterson SFB, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 4 oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
(Current as of June 2025)