Brig. Gen. Mark A. Baird is the Director, Space Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Washington, D.C. He directs development and purchasing on space programs to Air Force major commands, product centers and laboratories dealing with acquisition programs. His responsibilities include crafting program strategies and options for representing Air Force positions to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress and the White House. He entered active duty in 1989 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the Florida State University. During his career, he has served in a variety of acquisition positions including Contingency Contracting Officer, Procuring Contracting Officer, Program Manager, HQ Staff Officer, Squadron Commander, and Senior Materiel Leader. He spent a year in industry, studying space propulsion under Pratt & Whitney. He was also selected for the prestigious Air Force Legislative Fellowship and the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.