Col. Shaun M. Easley is the Deputy Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. NASIC is the Air Force’s analysis center for foreign air, space and specialized intelligence and provides a broad range of integrated, tailored assessments, products and services to joint operational forces, national policymakers and the acquisition community. The $2.1 billion center employs nearly 3,800 people and has an annual budget of more than $790 million.
Col. Easley received his commission from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps in Daytona Beach, Florida, in April 2002. He is a physicist who has helped develop satellite systems, supported and commanded nuclear surveillance and deterrence missions, and provided budgeting and legislative subject matter expertise for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. In 2013, he deployed as part of Combined Joint Task Force-101 in Afghanistan, serving as deputy chief for key leader engagements. In 2015, he served as a legislative fellow to a U.S. senator.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Easley was the Chief, Mission Integration Department, Cooperative Threat Reduction Directorate at Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Science, Applied Physics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Legislative Fellowship Program, Air Force Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2025 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Naval Support Activity, Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2002–November 2002, TechSat 21 Program Element Leader, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2. November 2002–June 2003, Project Officer, Space Countermeasures Hands-On Program, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. June 2003–August 2005, Deputy Program Manager, Deployable Space eXperiment, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. August 2005 – March 2007, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. April 2007 – July 2009, Nuclear Collections Project Manager, Air Force Technical Application Center, Patrick AFB, Fla.
6. July 2009 – April 2010, Chief, Resource Management, Materials Technology Directorate, Air Force Technical Application Center, Patrick AFB, Fla.
7. April 2010 – August 2011, Air Staff Liaison, Air Force Technical Application Center, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Va.
8. August 2011 – July 2014, Constant Stare Program Element Monitor, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. July 2014 – December 2015, Air Force Legislative Fellow, Air Force Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
10. December 2015 – June 2018, Congressional Liaison, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Springfield, Va.
11. June 2018 – May 2019, Chief, Stockpile Science & Technology Branch, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2019 – June 2020, Chief, AF/A10 Action Group, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. July 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 21st Surveillance Squadron, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
14. July 2022 – June 2023, Deputy Commander, 709th Surveillance and Analysis Group, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
15. July 2023 – November 2024, Chief, Program Integration Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
16. November 2024 – June 2025, Chief, Mission Integration Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.
17. July 2025 – Present, Deputy Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2023 – November 2024, Chief, Program Integration Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., as a colonel
2. November 2024 – June 2025, Chief, Mission Integration Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 19, 2002
First Lieutenant May 19, 2004
Captain May 19, 2006
Major Feb. 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2017
Colonel Oct. 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2025)