Space Force Association - Executive Committee

Mark Stafford, Colonel, USAFR, Chief Strategy Officer

Mark Stafford is the President and CEO of Delta Solutions and Strategies, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business headquartered in Colorado Springs. Mr. Stafford has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, serving on Active Duty in the Air Force, the AF Reserves and in commercial industry. Mr. Stafford received his B.A. in History and Minor in Economics from Tulane University and received his MBA with an emphasis in Information Systems from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Mr. Stafford began his career in the Air Force as a space operator and transitioned to the AF Reserves in 1998. After Active Duty, Mr. Stafford worked at the Aerospace Corporation supporting multiple DoD and commercial space programs as a Technical Advisor and Source Selection Advisor. Mr. Stafford next spent over ten years at Booz Allen Hamilton as a technical consultant and manager in various leadership positions. Mr. Stafford was responsible for the business development, marketing, and management of teams that supported the DoD, NASA and other National clients. Mr. Stafford is currently serving at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SP) in his AF Reserve capacity. Previously he was the Reserve Advisor to the Chief of Current Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command and the Commander of the 7th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base. Mr. Stafford served two tours in the Middle East and has held positions in Acquisition, RDT&E, Joint Staff, Space Control, and Space Operations.

Michael Martindale, Lt Colonel (Ret.), USAF, PhD, Director, Space Education Committee

Michael served over 27 years in the Air Force retiring in 2018. Michael served in a variety of space and nuclear operations positions to include the US Air Force Weapons School, the Checkmate Division on the Air Staff, and on the Joint Staff, culminating his career on faculty for the Department of Military and Strategic Studies at the United State Air Force Academy.

He holds a Master of Science in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Master of Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of South Carolina.

Michael “Ludes” Martindale is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and the Director of the Space Education Committee for the Space Force Association. Michael is also a group analyst with Frontier Technology Inc., delivering decision analysis technologies to Department of Defense customers.

Dan Dant, Colonel (Ret.), USAF, Executive Committee Director

Daniel “Sphinx” Dant is the Executive Director of the Space Force Association Executive Committee. Dan is a retired USAF Colonel.
He is a graduate of the USAF Weapon School and commanded at multiple levels, culminating as the Commander, 469th Space Wing, Buckley AFB CO. Dan is married to Diana Dant and they have two beautiful daughters and two giant Mastiff dogs. They live in Northern VA. Senior Director at L3Harris Corporate HQ. He manages the corporation’s business development for the United States Space Force.

Chris Barnes, Major (Ret.), USAF, Director of Volunteer Support

Christopher “FOG” Barnes served over 20 years in the Air Force beginning in early 2001. His experience ranges from 8 years of all-source intelligence in the fields of targeting, weaponeering, and space intelligence analysis to over 12 years of space operations experience in Strategic and Theater Space-Based Missile Warning, Offensive Space Control, and Aggressor operations. He culminated his career as the Reserve Force Generation Center Liaison to Air Combat Command. Mr. Barnes is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, and served in positions ranging from the tactical squadron to the Major Command and Combatant Command levels. He also served three combat tours in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mr. Barnes received his B.S. in Organization Management and Human Resources from Colorado Christian University and an MBA with an emphasis in Global Business from the American Military University. Mr. Barnes is currently with the MITRE Corporation, serving the United States Space Force as a Lead Space Systems Engineer. Chris spends his free time with his wife and daughter on their property in Peyton, Colorado.

Gerrit Dalman, Lieutenant Colonel, USSF, Director of Outreach

Lt Col Gerrit Dalman is a Space Officer and Master Air Battle Manager with over 2,000 hours in the E-3 AWACS and E-8 JSTARS. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Alaska Anchorage, a Master of Science in Space Studies from American Military University, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College where he was a member of the Space Horizons Task Force. He has published on topics of multi-domain command, control, and communications.

In addition to his operational experience, he is a certified Electronic Warfare Coordinator, was an integral member of the Algorithmic Warfare Crossfunctional Team, and his previous assignments include Joint Staff Command Control Communications and Cyber Directorate and Director of Operations in the AWACS formal training unit. In 2020, Gerrit left the Air Force to assume his current duties as the Deputy Director of the Space Warfighting Combined Test Force.

Through his volunteer work he applies his passion for spacepower to the realization of a safe and prosperous space economy.