Chandler Atwood

Chandler Atwood
Official portrait, 2020
Born	1977 or 1978 (age 45–46)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force United States Space Force
Years of service	2001–2020 (Air Force) 2020–present (Space Force)
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	Space Delta 7 566th Intelligence Squadron
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Alma mater	The Citadel (BA) American Military University (MA)

Chandler Parrish Atwood (born 1977/1978) is a United States Space Force colonel who served as the first commander of Space Delta 7 from 2020 to 2022. He now serves as the director of intelligence of Space Operations Command. In 2024, he was nominated for promotion to brigadier general.

Atwood also served as a national defense fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy where he wrote about Syria.

Education

• 2001 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C.
• 2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
• 2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
• 2009 Master of Arts, Strategic Intelligence, American Military University
• 2013 Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program, Washington, D.C. 2014 National Defense Fellowship, The Washington Institute, Washington, D.C.
• 2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
• 2018 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

Military career

Col Atwood (right) holding Space Delta 7's emblem, 2021

1. October 2001 – May 2002, Student, Intelligence Applications Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX
2. June 2002 – June 2003, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Operations, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. June 2003 – June 2005, Chief, Squadron Intelligence, 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. June 2005 – December 2005, Student, Intelligence Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. December 2006 – November 2007, Chief, Intelligence Operations, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
6. December 2007 – August 2008, Intelligence Flight Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
7. August 2008 – August 2009, USAF Weapons School Instructor Flight Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. August 2009 – May 2011, Director of Staff and USAF Weapons School Instructor, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. May 2011 – September 2011, Secretary of Air Force's ISR Review Committee, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Directorate of Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. September 2011 – July 2013, Director of Operations, Geospatial Intelligence and Measurement and Signatures Intelligence Production Squadron, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. July 2013 – May 2014, National Defense Fellowship, The Washington Institute, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2014 – July 2015, Chief, Headquarters Air Force Directorate of Intelligence Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. July 2015 – July 2017, Commander, 566th Intelligence Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
14. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2018 – May 2020, Chief, Intelligence Capabilities and Requirements Division, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. July 2020 – May 2022, Commander, Space Delta 7, Peterson SFB, Colo.
17. June 2022 – present, Director of Intelligence, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.

Awards and decorations

Atwood is the recipient of the following awards:

	Basic Space Operations Badge
	Master Intelligence Badge
	Air Staff Badge
	Commander's Insignia

	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon to denote fourth award)
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
	National Defense Service Medal
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air and Space Campaign Medal
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)

Dates of promotion

Rank	Branch	Date
Second Lieutenant	Air Force	May 4, 2001
First Lieutenant		May 4, 2003
Captain		May 4, 2005
Major		June 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel		February 1, 2015
Colonel		June 1, 2018
Colonel	Space Force	~June 24, 2021

Writings

• "Activity-Based Intelligence: Revolutionizing Military Intelligence Analysis," Joint Forces Quarterly, 2nd Quarter 2015
• "U.S. Military Options in Syria," The Washington Institute, May 28, 2014
• "Syran Air-Defense Capabilities and the Threat to Potential U.S. Air Operations," The Washington Institute, May 23, 2014
• "Between Not-In and All-In: U.S. Military Options in Syria," The Washington Institute, May 16, 2014
• "Linking Targets to Political Objectives in Syria," The Washington Institute, August 30, 2013
• "Every Second Counts," USAF Weapons School, Weapons Review, Winter 2009