NRO - National Reconnaissance Office
11/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/06/2026 11:29
NRO welcomes Brig. Gen. Schreiner as new deputy director and Space Force element commander
Chantilly, Va. - Brig. Gen. Robert J. Schreiner, U.S. Space Force, assumed duties as the new National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) deputy director and commander of the Space Force Element during a change of command ceremony at NRO headquarters today. He is the 10th general officer, and third Space Force officer, to serve in this position.
As the NRO deputy director, Schreiner will assist the director in managing the NRO's strategic and tactical operations, including the design, acquisition, launch and operations of the nation's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. As the Space Force Element commander, he will lead the military personnel assigned to NRO, manage associated service resources, and serve as the senior advisor to the NRO director on all military matters.
"We're honored to welcome Brig. Gen. Schreiner back to the NRO team," said the Honorable L. Roger Mason, Jr., NRO director. "His wide-ranging experience will bolster NRO's unique position supporting both the Intelligence Community and the Department of War to deliver integrated overhead intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for the national security enterprise. His background in satellite operations, engineering, and acquisitions will help drive innovation to maintain America's intelligence advantage in space."
Schreiner succeeds Space Force Maj. Gen. Christopher S. Povak, who has been selected for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as deputy chief of space operations for operations at the Pentagon's U.S. Space Force headquarters.
"It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that we say farewell to Maj. Gen. Chris Povak after serving over four years in his role, making him the longest serving military deputy in our organization's history," Mason said. "His work here leveraged decades of experience leading NRO operations around the world, and his efforts as deputy director truly made an enduring impact, especially driving the effective collaboration between NRO, combatant commands, joint agencies and allied partners to bolster NRO's space-based capabilities to gain and maintain an information advantage for the nation."
Prior to NRO, Schreiner served as the commander of U.S. Space Forces Northern, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. He previously commanded the NRO's Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado and has held a variety of space operations, acquisition management, and systems engineering positions within NRO, the Space Force, Air Force, and the Joint Staff. His official biography can be found here.
For more than 65 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world's leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO's next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.
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As the NRO deputy director, Schreiner will assist the director in managing the NRO's strategic and tactical operations, including the design, acquisition, launch and operations of the nation's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. As the Space Force Element commander, he will lead the military personnel assigned to NRO, manage associated service resources, and serve as the senior advisor to the NRO director on all military matters.
"We're honored to welcome Brig. Gen. Schreiner back to the NRO team," said the Honorable L. Roger Mason, Jr., NRO director. "His wide-ranging experience will bolster NRO's unique position supporting both the Intelligence Community and the Department of War to deliver integrated overhead intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for the national security enterprise. His background in satellite operations, engineering, and acquisitions will help drive innovation to maintain America's intelligence advantage in space."
Schreiner succeeds Space Force Maj. Gen. Christopher S. Povak, who has been selected for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as deputy chief of space operations for operations at the Pentagon's U.S. Space Force headquarters.
"It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that we say farewell to Maj. Gen. Chris Povak after serving over four years in his role, making him the longest serving military deputy in our organization's history," Mason said. "His work here leveraged decades of experience leading NRO operations around the world, and his efforts as deputy director truly made an enduring impact, especially driving the effective collaboration between NRO, combatant commands, joint agencies and allied partners to bolster NRO's space-based capabilities to gain and maintain an information advantage for the nation."
Prior to NRO, Schreiner served as the commander of U.S. Space Forces Northern, Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. He previously commanded the NRO's Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado and has held a variety of space operations, acquisition management, and systems engineering positions within NRO, the Space Force, Air Force, and the Joint Staff. His official biography can be found here.
For more than 65 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world's leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO's next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.
SEE THE PRESS RELEASE
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