Col James T. Horne III is the Commander of Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30) and the Western Launch and Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base. He ensures mission success for 26 mission partners, including U.S. Space Forces – Space, Space Delta 1, Space Delta 5, the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, and the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, by providing essential operational and logistical installation support and security. He oversees $11.2B in assets and a $280M annual budget across the 118,000-acre installation, leading over 11,000 personnel to enable critical space and missile operations and development. Col Horne recently served as the Senior Materiel Leader, Launch Execution Delta, Assured Access to Space, Space Systems Command. He led a 525+ member team executing the $12.3B National Security Space Launch program directing production, integration and launch of the Falcon, Vulcan, New Glenn, Atlas, and Delta launch vehicle systems.
Col Horne received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 2000 and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in 2007. He transferred to the United States Space Force in June 2021. He has commanded the 30th Range Management Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.; served as Materiel Leader and Chief Engineer, Atlas V; served as the Chief of ICBM Standardization and Evaluation, and as a Minuteman III Missile Combat Crew Commander, Evaluator and Assistant Director of Operations; and served as Deputy Director, Assured Access to Space Directorate, and Deputy Director, Operations, Space Systems Command. His acquisitions experience includes work with Tactical Data Link systems in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle, as well as space launch supporting the design, development, qualification and first flights of the Atlas V and Vulcan rocket programs. In the deployed environment he has served as a Personal Representative to Enemy Non-Combatant Detainees from the Global War on Terror, at the Joint Detention Group, Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His staff assignments include Headquarters Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Top Third Graduate, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
2007 Master of Business Administration, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2012 Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2022 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–May 2001, Assistant Regional Director of Admissions, AFROTC northwest region, Michigan Tech University, Houghton, MI.
2. May 2001–January 2002, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, MS.
3. January 2002–March 2005, Acquisition Test and Program Manager, Hanscom AFB, MA.
4. March 2005–April 2008, Systems Engineering Manager, Chief, Commander’s Action Group and Atlas V Structures Branch Chief, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
5. April 2008–September 2008, Student, ICBM Qualification Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA.
6. September 2008–June 2011, Chief, ICBM Standardization and Evaluation, 341st OG, also Missile Combat Crew Commander, and Assistant Director of Operations 12th MS, Malmstrom AFB, MT.
7. June 2011–June 2012, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, OSD Policy, Middle East and Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, Foreign Liaison & Executive Review, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
8. June 2012–May 2014, Program Element Monitor, Launch and Range, Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. May 2014–October 2014, Personal Representative for Guantanamo Bay Enemy Non-Combatants, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
10. October 2014–June 2015, Branch Chief, Congressional and Media Affairs, Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2015–June 2017, Commander, 30th Range Management Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, CA.
12. June 2017–July 2020, Materiel Leader and Chief Engineer, Atlas V Launch Vehicle System Branch, Launch Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
13. July 2020–June 2021, Executive Officer to the Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, CA.
14. June 2021–August 2023, Deputy Director, Assured Access to Space, and Deputy Director, Operations, Space Systems Command, Patrick Space Force Base, FL.
15. August 2023–June 2025, Senior Materiel Leader, Launch Execution Delta, Assured Access to Space Directorate, Space Systems Command, Patrick Space Force Base, FL.
16. July 2025 – Present, Commander, Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg SFB, CA.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2013 Lieutenant General Kelly H. Burke Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant
May 31, 2000
First Lieutenant
May 31, 2002
Captain
May 31, 2004
Major
February 01, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel
June 01, 2015
Colonel
June 01, 2021
(Current as of August 2025)