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, Colo. His detachment develops programs and curriculum for the four-year undergraduate regimen leading to 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, Colo.

Air Force National Laboratory Technical Fellowship, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, Tenn. (2016)

Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence (2010)

Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. (2008)

Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2005)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2001)

Master of Science, Nuclear Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (1999)

Bachelor of Science, Physics (Space), U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (1994)

Commander, Space Force Delta 13, Detachment 1, and Senior Liaison, Space, Training, and Readiness Command, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 2023-Present)

Director of Staff, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. (June 2021–June 2023)

Chief, Science and Technology Division, North American Aerospace Defense Command–US Northern Command, Peterson SFB, Colo. (June 2020–June 2021)

Commander, 39th Weapons System Security Group, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey (June 2019–June 2020)

Chief, Nuclear Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany (June 2016–June 2019)

National Laboratory Technical Fellow, Oak Ridge National Lab, Tenn. (June 2015–June 2016)

Deputy Chief, Nuclear Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany (June 2013–June 2015)
Principal Systems Integrator, AF Nuclear Weapons Center, Ramstein AB, Germany (June 2012–June 2013)
Deputy Director, Treaty Monitoring, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla. (January 2012–June 2012)

Acting Director, Treaty Monitoring, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla. (April 2011–January 2012)

Director of Operations, 355th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (SHADOW HARVEST), Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan (April 2010–April 2011)

Chief, Irregular Warfare Division, Technical Collections, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla. (August 2009–April 2010)

Deputy Chief, Special Projects Division, Technical Collections, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla. (July 2008–July 2009)

Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. (August 2007–July 2008)

Warning Intelligence Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (January 2006–August 2007)
Chief, WMD-Special Weapons, Multi-National Forces Iraq, Combined Intelligence Operations Center, Baghdad, Iraq (September 2006–December 2006)

Science and Technology Intelligence Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (December 2005–September 2006)

Chief, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Joint Intelligence Assessments, Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (September 2005–December 2005)

Commander, Detachment 452, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Camp Long, Wonju, South Korea (September 2004–September 2005)

Executive Officer, Assistant DCI for Collections, DCI Staff, Central Intelligence Agency, Va. (January 2004–September 2004)

Measurement and Signature Intelligence Strategic Analyst, Assistant Director for Central Intelligence for Collections, DCI Staff, Central Intelligence Agency, Va. (February 2001–January 2004)

Collections Program Officer and Chief, Nuclear Plant Program, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla. (March 1999–February 2001)

Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio September (1997–March 1999)

Overhead Systems Data Analyst and Program Manager, National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (June 1994–September 1997)

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
Chief, Science and Technology Division, NORAD-USNORTHCOM, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., as a colonel (June 2020–June 2021)

Chief Irregular Warfare Division, Defense Intelligence Agency, Patrick SFB, Fla., as a lieutenant colonel (September 2009–March 2011)

Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate for Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. as a major (September 2005–December 2007)

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 HONORS
Director of National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Award (2011)

Jabara Award for Airmanship Finalist (2011)

DIA Director’s Team Award – SHADOW HARVEST (2010)

Director of National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction (2005)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All-Air Force Soccer Team (1995, 1996, 2000)

Armed Forces Soccer Champion (1995, 2000)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant
Colonel December 2015

Lieutenant Colonel September 2009

Major September 2004

Captain June 1998

First Lieutenant June 1996

Second Lieutenant June 1994

(Current as of December 2023)