Colonel Gary D. McAlum
Director of Operations, Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations
United States Strategic Command
Colonel Gary D. McAlum is the Chief of Staff for the Joint Task Force Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO), a US Strategic Command functional component located in Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, he leads a diverse organization of over 400 professionals across key functional areas including operations, legal, intelligence, international relations, and strategic planning in support of JTF-GNO’s mission to direct the operation and defense of DoD’s global information technology enterprise, the Global Information Grid. JTF-GNO executes this mission by working closely with over 60 worldwide NetOps Centers on a daily basis to include four Service NetOps Component Centers, five DISA NetOps Centers, the Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Support Center, and the Defense Agencies, in close coordination with the Combatant Commands, interagency and international partners.
Colonel McAlum entered the Air Force in 1983 through the Air Force ROTC program at The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina. He has served in a variety of jobs within the communications and information career field including software engineer, MAJCOM C4 staff officer, satellite communications officer, unified command SATCOM staff officer, squadron commander, and executive officer. In addition, he completed a special duty assignment as an AFROTC instructor at Auburn University, Alabama. He was designated a Joint Specialty Officer in August 2001.
Colonel McAlum is married to the former Nancy Bennett of Charleston, South Carolina. They have three children: Sarah, Tony, and Teresa.