Todd Pennington

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2007

  Judge Advocate (Attorney)

  Served in positions of increasing responsibility at various U.S. and foreign locations as a Judge Advocate (military attorney), supporting Air Force and Joint Service organizations. Prosecuted courts-martial, including serious felony-type cases. Advised commanders on international law and the law of war, at home station and deployed. Provided legal support on ethics and compliance requirements. Negotiated and concluded agreements with representatives of foreign governments.

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  Joint Special Operations Command

  Jul 2007 - Jul 2011

  Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (Deputy General Counsel)

  Served as Principal Deputy to the Staff Judge Advocate (Chief Legal Counsel) responsible for general counsel services for the worldwide activities of the Joint Special Operations Command.

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  Air Force Global Strike Command

  Jul 2011 - Jul 2014

  Staff Judge Advocate (General Counsel) - 509th Bomb Wing

  Chief Legal Officer for the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, MO, and America's fleet of B-2 stealth bombers. Key duties and responsibilities: Served as Principal Legal Advisor to installation commander and support staff responsible for 5,000 Air Force & Army personnel. Led 17-person team of attorneys and support personnel responsible for prosecuting criminal cases before military and federal courts, receiving and adjudicating claims against the Air Force, and providing personal legal services to eligible service members, civilians, and retirees. Represented management in negotiations with labor unions. Provided legal advice and support related to environmental protection, real estate management, integrity and compliance programs, and security of assets vital to national security. Show less

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  The Joint Staff

  Jul 2014 - Jul 2016

  Deputy Legal Counsel (Deputy General Counsel)

  Legal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the principal military advisor to the President of the United States) and to the Joint Staff on nuclear operations, counter-terrorism and special operations, homeland security, homeland defense, anti-terrorism, force protection, space launch and space flight operations, White House operations support, and continuity of operations/continuity of government. Key duties and responsibilities: Contributed to development of Presidential and Department of Defense policies. Performed legal and policy compliance and equity reviews of proposed actions, including military operations, war plans, and promulgation of departmental policy. Assisted in preparation of reports for the President and for Congress. Represented the Joint Staff to the Military Services, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, other federal departments and agencies, Congress, and the National Security Council. Show less

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  Pacific Air Forces

  Jul 2016 - Jul 2019

  Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (Deputy General Counsel)

  Principal deputy to the senior legal counsel for Pacific Air Forces, providing leadership and professional oversight for 260 attorneys, paralegals, and support staff at 21 offices in four countries. Pacific Air Forces is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving throughout the Pacific. Before selection as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, served as Chief of Operations Law and Chief of Administrative Law. As Chief of Operations Law (Deputy General Counsel for Operations) directed legal support for international law, the law of war, and national policy matters; represented Pacific Air Forces in international talks and negotiations; assisted in preparation of plans for military operations in support of America's national security objectives; led, mentored, and supervised U.S. and coalition legal advisors participating in military exercises and operations.As Chief of Administrative Law (Ethics and Compliance Program Director) directed command-wide integrity and compliance programs (including prevention and resolution of conflicts of interest, and confidential and public financial disclosure filings); performed compliance oversight inspections; oversaw internal investigation of complaints, aircraft mishaps and ground accident fatalities, and professional responsibility matters; provided consultative support and advice to management and employees. Show less

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  United States Space Force

  Jul 2019 - Nov 2021

  Principal legal advisor to the Commander, Space Operations Command, during the transition from its legacy structure as United States Space Force (formerly Air Force Space Command), through its establishment as the Space Force's first Field Command. Provided leadership and professional oversight for over 150 attorneys, paralegals, and support staff at seven Air Force installations. The United States Space Force provides space launch, missile warning, positioning, navigation and timing, communications, space electronic warfare, space control, command and control, and space domain awareness capabilities for United States Space Command and other combatant commands. The command manages a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and space launch facilities. (Prior to October 2020, Space Operations Command at Peterson AFB was designated U.S. Space Force, and was previously designated Air Force Space Command). Show less Principal legal advisor to the Commander, Space Operations Command and Combined Force Space Component Command. Provides leadership and professional oversight for over 100 attorneys, paralegals, and support staff at five Air Force installations. Space Operations Command (part of US Space Force) provides strategic missile warning, nuclear command, control and communication, position, navigation and timing, space situational awareness, satellite operations, and range operations. Combined Force Space Component Command (part of U.S. Space Command) is responsible for directing assigned and attached forces in planning, integrating, conducting, and assessing global space operations in order to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to Combatant Commands, coalition partners, the Joint Force, and the Nation.(Prior to December 20, 2019, Space Operations Command at Vandenberg AFB was designated 14th Air Force, part of the United States Air Force). Show less

  • Staff Judge Advocate (General Counsel) - Space Operations Command

    Jul 2020 - Nov 2021

  • Staff Judge Advocate (General Counsel) - Space Operations Command

    Jul 2019 - Jul 2020
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  U.S. Space Command

  Nov 2021 - Jun 2023

  Staff Judge Advocate (General Counsel)

  Principal legal advisor to the Commander, United States Space Operations Command, the Unified Combatant Command responsible for conducting operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force, and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners. Leads an enterprise of attorneys and legal support staff providing general counsel legal support at Headquarters United States Space Command, two functional component commands, and five service component commands. Show less

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  United States Department of Defense

  Jul 2023 - Apr 2024

  Associate Deputy General Counsel for Intelligence

  Attorney-Advisor with the Department of Defense Office of General Counsel (Intelligence), responsible for providing legal support to space programs and special technical operations.

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  Institute for National Strategic Studies

  Apr 2024 - now

  Senior Research Fellow (Space Strategy and Policy)

  Conducts applied research in space strategy and policy to provide strategic advice to decisionmakers throughout the Department of Defense, including the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Combatant Commands, and Services.