Howell M. Estes III

General Howell M. Estes III (born December 16, 1941) served as commander in chief in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Space Command (USSC), and served as commander in the Air Force Space Command (AFSC), headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

As commander, the general was responsible for the air sovereignty of the United States and Canada, providing tactical warning and attack assessment, directing space control and support operations, directing satellite control, warning, space launch and ballistic missile operations missions.

General Estes graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965.

He has commanded both operational and maintenance squadrons, the Air Force's only stealth fighter unit, and an air division and numbered air force.

Prior to his current position, he served as director for operations (J-3), the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He also co-authored "Strategic and Doctrinal Implications of Deep Attack," the concept of operations for the Defense of Central Europe.

A command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, he flew 169 combat missions as an F-4 pilot during the Vietnam War.

During the Gulf War he served as deputy chief of staff for operations, Strategic Air Command.

He retired on October 1, 1998.

Estes has been on the board of directors DigitalGlobe since May 14, 2007; In February 2011 he became the chair of the board.

On Dec. 13, 2018, Maxar Technologies announced that "the Maxar Board of Directors has elected retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Howell M. Estes III as Chair, effective January 1, 2019."