Gen. William L. Shelton was Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He was responsible for organizing, equipping, training and maintaining mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command and other combatant commands around the world. General Shelton oversaw Air Force network operations; managed a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and space launch facilities; and was responsible for space system development and acquisition. He led more than 42,000 professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.

General Shelton entered the Air Force in 1976 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served in various assignments, including research and development testing, space operations and staff work. The general has commanded at the squadron, group, wing and numbered air force levels, and served on the staffs at major command headquarters, Air Force headquarters and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to assuming his current position, General Shelton was the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.