PULLMAN, Wash. - Satellites, space and policy are topics that Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs Richard W. McKinney will discuss in a free, public talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in Todd 116 at Washington State University.

 

"How Does the U.S. Air Force Use Space?” is the final WSU Pullman Common Reading Tuesdays lecture of the 2011-12 academic year.

 

In addition, McKinney will present "Space Policy 101” at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Bundy Reading Room in Avery Hall as part of the Coffee and Politics series hosted by the WSU Foley Institute.

 
McKinney earned his B.A. in business administration in marketing from WSU. A distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC on the Pullman campus, he spent 28 years on active duty before retiring as a colonel in 2001. The following year, he was appointed to the prestigious Senior Executive Service, a corps of federal executives charged with leading the continuing transformation of government.

 

He provides guidance, direction and oversight for the formulation, review and execution of military space programs. That includes integrating military space activities between Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office, NASA and other agencies and nations.

 

He previously served as director for space acquisition in the under secretary’s office and was the Air Force liaison to Europe to facilitate and expand international cooperation in space.

 

A native of Lacey, Wash., McKinney maintains strong ties to WSU by serving on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees, on the advisory board of the College of Business, on the campaign steering committee of the University College and as creator of the Richard McKinney Honors Study Abroad Scholarship in the Honors College.

 

While in Pullman, McKinney will meet with his scholarship recipient and also with Honors College students to discuss careers in public service.

 

WSU’s Common Reading Tuesdays faculty/guest expert lecture series is part of the Common Reading Program, which promotes dialogue between freshmen and the university community around topics in a shared book. This year’s book is "Physics for Future Presidents,” by University of California, Berkeley retired professor Richard A. Muller.