Captain Simone Keith is the Recruiting Officer, and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 365, based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Captain Keith was commissioned into the Air Force in June 2015 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduation Fresno State University with a degree in Chemistry. Capt Keith graduated from Officer Undergraduate Space Training (OUST) at Vandenberg AFB, and was trained as a satellite vehicle operator in the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schiever AFB. She commanded 32 satellites maintaining the health and accuracy of the bus and payload for the entire GPS constellation. In September 2020, Capt Keith transferred to the United States Space Force and in that same year earned an M.S. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota. She was the Special Technical Operations Branch Chief for the Combined Space Operations Center, Vandenberg SFB, CA. She is responsible for advising and coordination the integration of special access programs into exercises, training, and conventional warfare.
EDUCATION
2015 Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Fresno State, CA
2016 Officer Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2020 Master of Science in Space Studies, University of North Dakota, ND
2022 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2016 – March 2017, student, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schiever AFB, CO
2. March 2017 – June 2018, satellite vehicle operator, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, Schiever AFB, CO
3. June 2018 – March 2019, instructor, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schiever AFB, CO
4. Mach 2019- March 2020, evaluator, 50th Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation, Schiever AFB, CO
5. March 2020 – July 2023, special technical operations branch chief, Combined Space Operations Center, Vandenberg SFB, CA
6. July 2023 – present, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Detachment 365, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mass.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service Award
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun 17, 2015
First Lieutenant Dec 2, 2017
Captain Dec 2, 2019
(Current as of August 2023)