Colonel Joyce Bulson is the Deputy Commander for Operations, Space Launch Delta (SLD) 45 which includes operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (SFS), Patrick Space Force Base (SFB), and Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield. SLD 45’s conducts all Eastern Spaceport & Test Range operations necessary for launching Department of War, Intelligence Community, civil, and commercial space missions, as well as testing new Department of War capabilities in partnership with other services.
Prior to this role, Col Bulson established the Space Force’s first office for Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics. In this role, Colonel Bulson was responsible for addressing the Department of War’s In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) requirements and preparing for the transition of Air Force Research Lab’s “Rocket Cargo” Vanguard to Cape Canaveral SFS.
Colonel Bulson was commissioned in 2002 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Notre Dame where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Science-Business. She received her first two master’s degrees in Space Systems and R&D management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Her third master’s degree was earned through the Intermediate Development Education program at the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs) with follow-on assignment to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).
She has served in various program management roles with responsibilities including acquisition approval and reporting for Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1C and ACAT 1D programs, contract management for launch site support and integration, and System Engineering and Technical Assistance contracts. Notable staff assignments included serving as a Legislative Liaison on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), serving as a Program Element Monitor for the Air Force’s Launch, Range, and Networks Portfolio, and serving as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs (SAF/SP). She completed two command assignments, one as a Squadron Commander at USAFA and the second as a Materiel Leader at the NRO where she was responsible for planning, programming, budgeting, and executing a $4B launch service portfolio.
EDUCATION
2002 BS in Science Business, University of Notre Dame, IN
2002 Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 MS in Space Systems, AFIT, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2006 MS in R&D Management, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2014 Master of Arts Degree in Counseling & Leadership, UCCS, CO
2019 PMT 401 Program Management Course, Fort Belvoir, VA
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL – In Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 2002 - Aug 2004, PEM Liaison, MILSATCOM JPO, LAAFB, CA
2. Aug 2004 - Jul 2006, Graduate Student, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
3. Jul 2006 - Aug 2006, Student, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
4. Aug 2006 - Jan 2008, Chief - Launch System Engineer, OSL, NRO, Chantilly, VA
5. Jan 2008 - May 2009, Chief - Launch Integration & Ops, OSL, NRO, Chantilly, VA
6. May 2009 - May 2011, Legislative Liaison, NRO, Chantilly, VA
7. May 2011 - May 2012, Mil Assistant, DepUSecAF, SAF/SP, Pentagon, VA
8. Jun 2012 - Jun 2013, PM, Space C2 & Surveillance Division, Peterson AFB, CO
9. Jun 2013 - May 2014, Grad Student, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
10. Jun 2014 - Jun 2016, Air Officer Commanding, USAFA, CO
11. Jun 2016 - May 2017, Deputy, Launch Strategic Integration, SSC, Chantilly, VA
12. May 2017 - Jun 2018, Chief, Launch Range Networks, SAF/AQS, Pentagon, VA
13. Jun 2018 - Jun 2019, Chief of Staff, OSL, NRO, Chantilly, VA
14. Jun 2019 - Jun 2022, Chief, Launch Acquisitions, OSL, NRO, Chantilly, VA
15. Jun 2022 - Jul 2023, Chief, Network Engineering Division, Washington, DC
16. Aug 2023 - Jul 2025, Director, Servicing, Mobility, and Logistics, CCSFS, FL
17. Jul 2025 - Present, Deputy Commander (Operations), SLD 45, CCSFS, FL
MAJOR MILITARY DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
National Reconnaissance Office Superior Service Medal (Gold), 2011 & 2022
National Reconnaissance Office Director’s Circle Award, 2007 & 2009
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant - 29 May 2002
First Lieutenant - 29 May 2004
Captain - 29 May 2006
Major - 1 July 2012
Lieutenant Colonel - 1 May 2017
Colonel - 1 August 2023
(Current as of July 2025)