All Team Members

David Thompson

Senior Principal Advisor

Gen (ret). DT Thompson is a Senior Principal Advisor for Elara Nova. With more than 38 years of experience serving the Air Force and Space Force, he brings experience in multiple domains of the space industry.

Prior to his retirement in 2024, General (Ret.) Thompson served over 38 years in the Air and Space Forces as a career space officer with assignments in operations, acquisition, research and development, and academia.   He commanded operational units at the squadron, group and wing levels, deployed to SouthWest Asia as Director of Space Forces for Air Forces Central, and served in senior leadership positions at the National Reconnaissance Office, United States Strategic Command, Air Force Space Command and Headquarters United States Space Force.

Thompson’s military career culminated in the role of first Vice Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, where he assisted in planning and creation of the first new military branch in 73 years, and served as member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, Deputy Secretary of Defense Management Action Group and periodic representative of the Chief of Space Operations in meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thompson earned a B.S. in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University, and an M.S. in national security industrial policy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF). He is also an Olmsted Scholar and graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College and Senior Acquisition Course of National Defense University.  Thompson is a distinguished graduate of USAFA and ICAF, and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus of Purdue University