Maj. Gen. Robert J. Skinner is Deputy Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He assists the commander in organizing, training, equipping and maintaining mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and providing missile warning, positioning, navigation and timing, communications and cyber capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command and the other functional and geographic combatant commands. The command oversees Air Force network operations; manages a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and space launch facilities; and is responsible for space system development and acquisition. The command comprises approximately 36,000 space and cyberspace professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.General Skinner also directs and coordinates the activities of the headquarters staff.
General Skinner was commissioned through Officer Training School (2nd Honor Graduate) in 1989. He has served in various tactical and fixed communications assignments, plans, policy and resource staff work. The general has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and served on the staffs at a numbered air force, major command headquarters, Air Force headquarters and the Joint Staff. Prior to assuming his current position, General Skinner was the Deputy Commander, Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Networks.