Surprise Move Amid Space Acquisition Leadership Changes
In a surprise move, Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy has been shifted out of his role as head of the space acquisition shop at the Department of the Air Force to serve as senior advisor to Secretary Troy Meink. The move comes as the Air Force prepares for a significant budget boost in fiscal 2027 and faces the challenge of integrating a wide range of service programs. Tom Ainsworth will take on the duties of assistant secretary at SAF/SQ, while Brig. Gen. Panzenhagen has been named military deputy. The reasons behind Purdy’s shift are unclear, but his new role will involve advising the Secretary on the entire DAF Space Acquisition portfolio. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.