2009 Hays Award

Recipient: Col. David W. Madden

Citation: For leading a ten-year development program over 400 multi-organizational personnel through delivery and transition to operation of an 850 million dollar GPS control segment system. For his execution of “back-to-basics” baseline review for the three next-generation navigation programs totaling more than two and a half billion dollars, paving the way for continuing GPS as the gold-standard for world-wide position, navigation, and timing.

Col. David W. Madden is commander, GPS Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. He is responsible for a multiservice, multinational systems wing which conducts development, acquisition, fielding and sustainment of all GPS space segment, satellite command and control (ground) segment, and GPS military user equipment. The $32B GPS program, with a $1B annual budget, maintains the largest satellite constellation, the largest avionics integration and installation program in the Department of Defense.

Col. Madden entered the Air Force in 1980 after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute. He has gained vast experience in systems engineering, technical intelligence, and space systems requirements, development, fielding and operations. In addition, he has commanded a space operations squadron and a material acquisition group. Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Madden was vice commander, GPS Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Col. Madden’s military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and National Intelligence Medal of Achievement.

Col. Madden received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.