ISR & SOF Directorate gets new PEO

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Col. Dale White assumed leadership as Program Executive Officer for the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate headquartered here, during a July 26 ceremony presided over by Dr. William Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

White replaces Col. Martin O’Grady, who is retiring after 24 years of service in the Air Force.

For the past three years, White has served as the Senior Materiel Leader and System Program Director for the B-21 Raider Program, where he was responsible for leading the highly classified program through acquisition planning, milestone development, and program execution.  In this role, he served as a key interface to senior Air Force, Department of Defense, and Congressional leadership.

As PEO, White will be responsible for the acquisition execution of a $16 billion portfolio, developing, producing, testing, modifying, fielding, and sustaining Air Force ISR and SOF platforms and related sub-systems.

In his final comments as PEO, O’Grady thanked members of the ISR & SOF Directorate for their hard work and dedication to the mission.  He also thanked his family and mentors for their support throughout his career.

During the ceremony White thanked Roper for his leadership and confidence.

“Dr. Roper thank you for your kind words, and your confidence in my ability to lead, not only in this job but with the B-21 program,” White said. “Your leadership is inspirational and timely as we [Air Force] climb the mountain of recapitalization and modernization.”

White also thanked members of his team.

“To all of the warfighters in the ISR & SOF Directorate, truly this is a great day for me,” he said. “Julie and I are excited to be back again.  As a PEO, I could not ask for a better team.  I welcome every challenge, I welcome every obstacle, and I welcome every enemy, because together the warriors of ISR & SOF will remain an enduring weapon and deterrent in defending our nation.  I am honored and absolutely privileged to lead you.”