APU Faculty Member: Brian K Anderson

Dr. Brian Anderson serves as the Space 200 Lead Course Developer and DoD Space Acquisition Instructor at the National Security Space Institute (NSSI). He has over 20 years of experience in space operations and acquisition as both an enlisted member and officer in the US Air Force.

Dr. Anderson enlisted in the Air Force in 1984 as part of the College Senior Engineering Program. After graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science in Astronautical Engineering, he attended the Officer Training School and was commissioned in 1985. His first assignment as an officer was at Newark AFS, Ohio, where he was the Lead Engineer for the RF-4C, F-4E and F-16 navigation systems.

In 1986, Dr. Anderson was selected to work in the Air Force’s manned space flight program. He was assigned to Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral AFS, and Patrick AFB, Florida. He directed support of the Eastern Test Range for 12 Space Shuttle missions. He oversaw construction of the nation’s newest launch facility, Space Launch Complex 20. During this assignment he completed a Masters of Science in Systems Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology.

In 1991, Dr. Anderson was assigned to Arnold AFB, Tennessee, as the Chief of the Space Test Facilities Division, with follow-on duty as the Chief of the Wing Commander’s Action Group. In 1995, He attended the Defense Systems Management College and then was assigned to the B-1B Bomber System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. There he led the team that developed the new defensive system for the aircraft and completed a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Anderson was selected to attend the Air Command and Staff College in 1998 and the Air Force’s School of Advanced Airpower Studies in 1999. His follow-on assignment was to US Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado. There he wrote the DoD Space Control Strategy and oversaw the publication of the DoD’s first space doctrine. He was deployed in the Future Operations Branch for Operations NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM. He planned Special Access Program activities for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM that supported the liberation of that nation. He went on to be the Air Force’s first Space Operator to command a squadron with a flying mission at the US Air Force Academy in 2003. His squadron was responsible for the education of over 4000 cadets in the application of air and space power.

Dr. Anderson retired as a command space operator and a certified program manager. He is married to the former Patricia Puterbaugh and has three daughters.