Retired USAF Brigadier General Marty France

ABOUT: Marty France, Ret. USAF Brig. Gen., Former Perm. Prof. & Head, Dept. of Astronautics, Engineering Div. Chair, USAF Academy

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-BS Degrees in Engineering Science and Engineering Mechanics, US Air Force Academy

-MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University

-MS in National Security Strategy and Distinguished Graduate, The National War College, National Defense University

-Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech

-Permanent Professor & Head, Dept of Astronautics (2005-2018); Engineering Division Chair (2015-2017), USAF Academy

-Past assignments to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Staff, Air Force Space Command Headquarters, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as the USAF Exchange Engineer to the French Ministry of Defense, and as the Chief Scientist to the Joint IED Defeat Organization

-Named a Fulbright Scholar to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

-Father of a USAF Academy graduate and a USMC infantryman; grandfather of three boys; married 37-plus years to Becky France

-Active cyclist, hiker, avid traveler (66 countries so far!), professional photographer, published author, and experienced stand-up science comic 

Marty France is a retired USAF Brigadier General and former Permanent Professor & Head of the Dept. of Astronautics and Engineering Division Chair at the USAF Academy.

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He commanded the Department of Astronautics with final responsibility for curriculum, personnel, research, budget, long-range planning, faculty development, and cadet instruction. The Department of Astronautics helps produce the finest Air Force officers in the world who live our core values and understand space. He supervised 30 Air Force officers, NCOs, civilians and support contractors offering 18 college-level courses annually to educate over 1,300 cadets in Astronautics and Space Operations. He also managed a dynamic $6.0M+ research program funded by Air Force Space Command, AFRL, and other DoD organizations.

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Ret. Brig. Gen. France earned his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1981, graduating with majors in Engineering Mechanics and Engineering Sciences. Colonel France’s professional experience include research and development assignments with the Air Force Research Lab working on high energy laser systems, as the Air Force Exchange Engineer to France, assigned to Toulouse, France, and as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He served as the Chief Scientist of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) during a sabbatical assignment and has earlier experience as an instructor, associate professor, and executive officer in the Department of Astronautics, USAF Academy.

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He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2014 and served as a visiting scholar to Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) during the fall of that year. He has published technical, policy, and strategy papers in several refereed journals, is a fully qualified Foreign Area Officer (fluent in French), a Joint Specialty Officer, and a Level III Certified Acquisition Professional.

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