National Security Space Management Team

D. Deal

Director, National Security Space
Space Department
11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel MD 20723
nss-team@jhuapl.edu
240-228-1633

Deal directs the National Security Space programs for the Applied Physics Laboratory. He oversees program execution and is also responsible for assuring that the capabilities of APL can be brought to bear for our nation's National Security Space needs.

Deal completed his career in the Air Force as a Brigadier General serving as Commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado, where he was responsible for executing the North American Aerospace Defense Command's integrated tactical warning and attack assessment mission, the U.S. Northern Command's homeland defense mission, and U.S. Strategic Command's space and missile warning support. As a senior pilot, he garnered over 2,200 flying hours in seven aircraft types, including the SR-71 Blackbird. Serving more than 14 years in command duties, he also had extensive service in logistics, aircraft and missile maintenance, and space operations. He won the 2004 Thomas White Space Award "for the most outstanding contribution to our nation's progress in space," and also the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He has served on or presided over a dozen mishap investigations for aircraft and space launch incidents, including the Columbia Accident Investigation Board in 2003.

Deal holds a B.S. in Physics, an M.S. in Systems Management, and an M.S. in Counseling/Psychology. He has also held a Research Fellowship with the RAND Corporation, was a Fellow of the Harvard Center for International Affairs, completed the Executive Development Program at Dartmouth, and also completed the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is the author of more than 25 articles on aviation, leadership, and technical subjects and has contributed to three books.

G. A. Orndorff

Deputy Business Area Executive, National Security Space
11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel MD 20723
nss-team@jhuapl.edu
240-228-1642

Orndorff is a member of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's Senior Professional Staff and is Deputy Director of the National Security Space Programs in the Space Department. In this role, he leads sponsor engagement activities, identifies critical problems to focus lab resources on, and develops critical contributions to those problems. He received an M.B.A. from Shenandoah (1999) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (1988). He is an experienced business development manager, technology director, programs manager and systems engineer and has demonstrated skills in strategic planning, program leadership, technical decision-making and contract negotiation in his previous and current job responsibilities. A team-building leader with the ability to plan, organize and direct technical projects with demonstrated competence in identifying problems and trends, developing viable solution sets, and directing the team along program priorities. He has extensive experience in industry having worked at Northrop Grumman and Orbital Sciences Corporation on C4ISR systems, reusable space systems, and anti-tamper approaches.

Orndorff is a retired Air Force officer who served in various space organizations in acquisition (AFSCN), operations (Atlas), and logistics (Vandenberg space lift support). He co-authored a 34th Space Congress paper on the Vision to Commercialize the Air Force Spacelift Ranges, 1997.

P. D. Cook

Program Area Manager, National Security Space
Space Department
11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel MD 20723
nss-team@jhuapl.edu
240-228-5319

Cook is the Program Area Manager for National Security Space at the Applied Physics Laboratory. In this role, he guides the laboratory's program managers meeting national defense and intelligence needs in space. He oversees the management of cost, schedule, performance, sponsor relationships, and other related areas to meet National Security Space program objectives. Cook brings strengths in strategic planning, program and resource management, and technology team leadership to the laboratory's National Security Space activities.

Cook is a retired Air Force officer with extensive experience on major defense development and acquisition programs in the fields of aeronautics, communications, and space reconnaissance. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA degree. He holds senior professional certifications in program management, test and evaluation, and systems engineering and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and the Air War College.