James Kevin McLaughlin
Former Lt. General
Department of Defense / Intelligence Community
Subject Matter Expert: Air Force Space and Cyber Command
Mr. Kevin McLaughlin is a former Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force with over 35 years of experience in the space and cyberspace business. He was the Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, MD for the last 3 years of his service. In this role he directed 12,000 personnel and managed the $525M budget to defend the largest information network, provide cyberspace options to commanders and protect critical U.S. infrastructure from cyber-attacks.
Before joining U.S. Cyber Command, Mr. McLaughlin led 24th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force’s organization of 4,500-personnel that organized, trained, and equipped cyber forces to execute global cyberspace operations. Prior to his assignment at 24th Air Force, Mr. McLaughlin spent thirty years as a leader of large, complex, and highly technical organizations associated with some of the world’s most critical space organizations including the squadron that operates the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Air Force operations group that operates over 170 satellites for national leadership, U.S. and allied military, and civil and federal agencies. He also served as the only active duty staff member on the Commission to Assess National Security Space Management and Organization (AKA The Rumsfeld Space Commission).
Mr. McLaughlin’s expertise is in Cyberspace and Security and is credited with creating and leading large-scale, innovative, global organizations, where success required keen understanding of the intersection of technology, strategic planning, policy development, legal frameworks, organizational reorganization, and transformation. As a trusted advisor to civilian and military executives he recommended programs and initiatives to assess and mitigate risk.
As Deputy Director, Global Operations for U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE, Mr. McLaughlin led situational awareness, command and control, integrated plans, and global nuclear, cyber and space operations for all U.S. forces. He planned and gained approval for the 1st global space operation, initiated space combat as a standalone function and acquired Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Center furthering electronic warfare and non-kinetic capabilities. Mr. McLaughlin established the first Coalition Space Operations Center with the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia.
In the Vice Commander role, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, NV, Mr. McLaughlin directed 11,000 airmen conducting weapons testing, tactics development, and advanced training across air, space, and cyber. He established best practices to strategically integrate space and cyber capabilities into air combat operations and created advanced integrated warfare course, multi-domain conferences, and a C2 training academy.
Mr. McLaughlin was First Commander, Space Development & Test Wing (SDTW), Director, Joint Operationally Responsive Space Office, Kirtland AFB, NM where he oversaw $3B acquisition, contracting, developmental test and evaluation, and research and development (R&D) operations for spacecraft constellation, ground C2, prototype operational systems, space launch vehicles, and ballistic missiles. He launched USAF’s most complex expendable launch vehicle mission comprised of 6 spacecraft, valued at $750M. In addition, he led the world’s most advanced space missions conducting autonomous rendezvous, refueling, and component swaps.
As the Director of Space Forces, Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar Mr. McLaughlin directed combat employment and integration of space capabilities across the Middle East combat zone to support operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. In this role he help to transform space support for War on Terror; implemented new C2, planning, and operations processes.
Mr. McLaughlin is an adjunct Professor of Practice, College Station, TX teaching a graduate course entitled Cyber Implications for National Security providing students with the tools needed by policy makers to solve cyberspace issues of strategic importance to the United States and our allies. He is also a Member of the Strategic Advisory Group, a federal advisory committee at Offutt Air Force Base, NE. Here he provides advice on scientific, technical, intelligence, and policy-related issues to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, during the development of the Nation’s strategic war plans.
