Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood uses his experience in space operations to support efforts to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities throughout the U.S. Space Force.
Bythewood will speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 23. At the event, you can gain insight into the foremost challenges in space operations as the U.S. pursues space superiority. Reserve your ticket to the 2025 Defense R&D Summit now!
Dennis Bythewood’s Experience
Bythewood serves as the special assistant to the chief of space operations within the U.S. Space Force. Prior to his current position, he was the commander of the U.S. Space Command’s Joint Task Force-Space Defense, or JTF-SD, after serving as its deputy commander for over a year.
As the JTF-SD’s second commander since its establishment in 2019, Bythewood was tasked with advancing the task force’s initiatives centered on implementing systems and capabilities to gain an advantage when protecting allied and partnering space systems.
Prior to taking command of the JTF-SD, Bythewood worked as the director of special programs at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California.
Some of Bythewood’s other previous roles include:
- Senior materiel leader and director of special programs within the space and missile systems center at Los Angeles AFB, California
- Director of the Space Development Corps and program executive officer for space development at Los Angeles AFB, California
- Senior materiel leader and director of the remote sensing systems directorate at Los Angeles AFB, California
- Special assistant to the director of the remote sensing systems directorate at Los Angeles AFB, California
- Commander of the 50th Operations Group at Schriever AFB, Colorado
Bythewood’s Thoughts On Space Domain Awareness
Enhancing the nation’s space domain awareness has become evermore crucial as the threat environment evolves and our adversaries become faster. During the Potomac Officers Club’s Second Annual Industrial Space Defense Summit, Bythewood echoed this sentiment.
“If you start to move into [tracking] tactical fighter aircraft and others, that environment changes,” Bythewood said. “The rapidity with which you need to update your picture and the refinement of that picture becomes much more important.”
You can learn more about the Space Force’s efforts to enhance space domain awareness at the 2025 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 23. Secure your spot at the 2025 Defense R&D Summit now.
