Bruce A. Carlson

Bruce Allen Carlson
17th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
In office
June 12, 2009 – July 20, 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byScott F. Large
Succeeded byBetty J. Sapp
Personal details
Born (1949-10-03) October 3, 1949 (age 74)
Hibbing, Minnesota
AwardsLegion of Merit
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1971–2009
RankGeneral
CommandsAir Force Materiel Command
8th Air Force
49th Fighter Wing

Bruce Allen Carlson (born October 3, 1949), was the 17th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He is a former four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the sixth Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war. After over 37 years of service, he retired from the Air Force on January 1, 2009. Carlson served as a general authority and a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 2009 to October 2015.