Rear Admiral Sandy Daniels

Rear Adm. Daniels graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1980 and was designated as a naval aviator in January 1982. Upon completion of pilot training, she reported to her first fleet assignment with Oceanographic Research Squadron (VXN) Eight where she flew specially configured research P-3 Orions worldwide. She was then assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory where she flew research missions, as well as being the military liaison to the Space Science Division earning her space operations subspecialty designation. She was subsequently assigned to the Naval Space Surveillance Center in Dahlgren, Va. In October 1991, she transitioned to the Reserve component with over 2,000 flight hours.

Daniels held numerous billets in the Navy Reserve Space Program, including units supporting the National Reconnaissance Office, Naval Space Command, OPNAV N6, and United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). She was designated a Navy Space Cadre Expert (AQD VS4) in January 2006. She served as director, Navy Space & Network Warfare Program from October 2005 to September 2007, and was selected for flag rank.

Her first flag assignment was as the Reserve assistant, Communication Networks on the Chief of Naval Operations’ staff (N6R). She later served as Director, Warfare Integration on the Chief of Naval Operations’ staff (N6F) from July 2008 to October 2009. In October 2009, she was selected to be the Deputy Commander of USSTRATCOM’s Joint Functional Component Command for Space, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The command is responsible for executing military space operations in support of national and combatant command objectives. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Science, Technology and Public Policy (Space Policy emphasis) from George Washington University. In April 2012, she assumed her current position as the senior advisor for Space to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6).