{{Short description|U.S. Space Force general officer (1978–2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox military person | name = Chandler Atwood | image = Brig Gen Chandler P. Atwood.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1978|9|4}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|6|29|1978|9|4}} | death_place = | burial_place = | birth_name = | allegiance = United States | branch = {{plainlist|United States Air Force * United States Space Force}} | branch_label = Branch | service_years = {{plainlist|2001–2020 (Air Force) *2020–2025 (Space Force)}} | rank = Brigadier General | service_number = | unit = | commands = Space Delta 7<br>566th Intelligence Squadron | battles = | awards = Defense Superior Service Medal<br>Legion of Merit | relations = | spouse = | other_work = | signature = | alma_mater = The Citadel (BA)<br>American Military University (MA) }}
'''Chandler Parrish Atwood'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=General and Flag Officers |url=https://citadelalumni.org/news-stories/distinguished-alumni/general-and-flag-officers/ |website=The Citadel Alumni Association}}</ref> (September 4, 1978 – June 29, 2025) was a United States Space Force brigadier general who served as the first commander of Space Delta 7 from 2020 to 2022. He last served as the vice commander and deputy commanding general (operations) of Space Operations Command.
Atwood also served as a national defense fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy where he wrote about Syria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/chandler-atwood|title=Chandler Atwood | The Washington Institute|website=www.washingtoninstitute.org}}</ref>
== Background == Atwood was born on September 4, 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sortedbyname.com/letter_a/atwood/index_30.html|title=Atwood Family History|website=sortedbyname.com}}</ref> He died on June 29, 2025, at the age of 46, from a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2025 |title=SpOC Family Mourns Loss of Teammate |url=https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/News/Display/Article/4233886/spoc-family-mourns-loss-of-teammate/ |access-date=4 July 2025 |website=Peterson & Schriever SFB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Atwood |first=Andrea |date=2025-07-03 |title=Support Team Atwood |url=https://www.supportnow.org/team-atwood |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=www.supportnow.org}}</ref>
== Education == * 2001 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, The Citadel, Charleston, S.C. * 2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. * 2005 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev. * 2009 Master of Arts, Strategic Intelligence, American Military University * 2013 Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program, Washington, D.C. 2014 National Defense Fellowship, The Washington Institute, Washington, D.C. * 2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence * 2018 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.<ref name=bio>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/3809787/chandler-p-atwood|title=Brigadier General Chandler P. Atwood|website=Space Operations Command|date=June 2024}}</ref>
== Military career == [[File:Maj. Gen. Leah Lauderback visits Delta 7.jpg|thumb|Col Atwood (right) holding Space Delta 7's emblem, 2021]] In 2024, Atwood was nominated for promotion to brigadier general.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/1269|title=PN1269 - 5 nominees for Space Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3639730/general-officer-announcements/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109222751/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3639730/general-officer-announcements/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2024|title=General Officer Announcements|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>
1. October 2001 – May 2002, Student, Intelligence Applications Officer Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX<br/> 2. June 2002 – June 2003, Deputy Chief, Intelligence Operations, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.<br/> 3. June 2003 – June 2005, Chief, Squadron Intelligence, 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.<br/> 4. June 2005 – December 2005, Student, Intelligence Instructor Course, USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.<br/> 5. December 2006 – November 2007, Chief, Intelligence Operations, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan<br/> 6. December 2007 – August 2008, Intelligence Flight Commander, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan<br/> 7. August 2008 – August 2009, USAF Weapons School Instructor Flight Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.<br/> 8. August 2009 – May 2011, Director of Staff and USAF Weapons School Instructor, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.<br/> 9. May 2011 – September 2011, Secretary of Air Force's ISR Review Committee, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Directorate of Intelligence, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.<br/> 10. September 2011 – July 2013, Director of Operations, Geospatial Intelligence and Measurement and Signatures Intelligence Production Squadron, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio<br/> 11. July 2013 – May 2014, National Defense Fellowship, The Washington Institute, Washington, D.C.<br/> 12. June 2014 – July 2015, Chief, Headquarters Air Force Directorate of Intelligence Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.<br/> 13. July 2015 – July 2017, Commander, 566th Intelligence Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.<br/> 14. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.<br/> 15. July 2018 – May 2020, Chief, Intelligence Capabilities and Requirements Division, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.<br/> 16. July 2020 – May 2022, Commander, Space Delta 7, Peterson SFB, Colo.<br/> 17. June 2022 – June 2024, Director of Intelligence, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.<br/> 18. June 2024 – June 2025, Vice-Commander and Deputy Commanding General, Operations, Space Operations Command, Peterson SFB, Colo.<ref name=bio/>
== Awards and decorations == Atwood is the recipient of the following awards:<ref name=bio/> {| |160px |Basic Space Operations Badge |- |80px|center |Master Intelligence Badge |- |100px|center |Air Staff Badge |- |30px|center |Commander's Insignia |} {| |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=60}} |Defense Superior Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=60}} |Legion of Merit |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}} |Meritorious Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}} |Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Achievement Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame)|width=60}} |Joint Meritorious Unit Award |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Meritorious Unit ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Meritorious Unit Award |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ''(second ribbon to denote fourth award)'' |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}} |National Defense Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon|width=60}} |Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze service star |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon|width=60}} |Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon|width=60}} |Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal ribbon|width=60}} |Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg|width=60}} |Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png|width=60}} |Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and two bronze oak leaf clusters |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Longevity Service Award USAF|width=60}} |Air Force Longevity Service Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters |- |60px |Air and Space Campaign Medal |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=60}} |Air Force Training Ribbon |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar|width=60}} |NATO Medal (Yugoslavia) |}
== Dates of promotion == {| class="wikitable" |+ ! Rank !! Branch !! Date<ref name=bio/> |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO1|75}} Second Lieutenant || rowspan=6|Air Force || May 4, 2001 |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO2|75}} First Lieutenant || May 4, 2003 |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO3|75}} Captain || May 4, 2005 |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO4|75}} Major || June 1, 2011 |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO5|75}} Lieutenant Colonel || | February 1, 2015 |- || {{Dodseal|USAFO6|75}} Colonel || June 1, 2018 |- || {{Dodseal|USSFO6|75}} Colonel || rowspan="2" | Space Force || ~June 24, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/602|title=PN602 - 765 nominees for Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress}}</ref> |- || {{Dodseal|USSFO7|75}} Brigadier General || June 11, 2024 |}
== Writings == * [https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/jfq/jfq-77/jfq-77_24-33_Atwood.pdf "Activity-Based Intelligence: Revolutionizing Military Intelligence Analysis," Joint Forces Quarterly, 2nd Quarter 2015] * [https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/us-military-options-syria "U.S. Military Options in Syria," The Washington Institute, May 28, 2014] * [https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/syrian-air-defense-capabilities-and-threat-potential-us-air-operations "Syran Air-Defense Capabilities and the Threat to Potential U.S. Air Operations," The Washington Institute, May 23, 2014] * [https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/media/2758 "Between Not-In and All-In: U.S. Military Options in Syria," The Washington Institute, May 16, 2014] * [https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/linking-targets-political-objectives-syria "Linking Targets to Political Objectives in Syria," The Washington Institute, August 30, 2013] * "Every Second Counts," USAF Weapons School, Weapons Review, Winter 2009
== References == {{commons category|Chandler P. Atwood}} {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-new|unit}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of Space Delta 7|years=2020–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Brett T. Swigert}} {{s-bef|before=Brian Sidari}} {{s-ttl|title=Director of Intelligence of Space Operations Command|years=2022–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Marqus D. Randall}} {{s-bef|before=Devin Pepper}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of Space Operations Command|years=2024–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Casey Beard}} {{s-bef|before=Brian Sidari}} {{s-ttl|title=Director of Intelligence of the United States Space Command|years=2025}} {{s-aft|after=Nathan L. Rusin}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atwood, Chandler}} Category:1978 births Category:2025 deaths Category:United States Space Force generals