Carlson was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1949.[1] He was commissioned in 1971 after completing the University of Minnesota Duluth's Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. He has held various assignments in flying units. Staff assignments have included positions at Tactical Air Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense, and as the director of force structure, resources and assessment with the Joint Staff. Additionally, he commanded the Air Force's 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico Prior to assuming his current position, Carlson served as the Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Carlson is experienced in multiple aircraft weapons systems, is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, and has combat experience in the OV-10.
In April 2009, Carlson was called as a general authority and a member of the LDS Church's Second Quorum of the Seventy.
In June 2009, he was appointed by President Barack Obama as director of the NRO, an agency that operates the nation's reconnaissance satellites.
On April 18, 2012, Carlson announced his resignation as director of the NRO, effective July 20, 2012.[2] As of 2020, Carlson is on the boards of Lockheed Martin and Benchmark Electronics.[3]
LDS Church service
Prior to his call as a general authority in April 2009, Carlson served in the church as an elders quorum president, young men president, bishop, high councilor, and an adviser to the church's Military Advisory Committee.[4]
Carlson served as one of two area supervisors of the church's Middle East/Africa North Area from 2012 to 2015.[5][6][7] Carlson also served as an Assistant Executive Director of the church's Temple Department.[8] During the church's October 2015 general conference, Carlson was released from the seventy and designated an emeritus general authority.[9]
July 1985 – June 1988, tactical systems requirements officer, Office of Low Observables Technology, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
July 1988 – June 1989, graduate student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
July 1989 – June 1991, director of advanced programs, Headquarters TAC, Langley AFB, Virginia
July 1993 – February 1995, senior military assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, and senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
February 1995 – November 1996, commander of 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
November 1996 – June 1998, director of global power programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
June 1998 – December 1999, director of operational requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
January 2000 – May 2002, director for force structure, resources and assessment (J-8), the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
May 2002 – April 2005, commander of 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
April 2005 – August 2005, commander of 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and joint functional component commander for space and global strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
August 2005 – January 2009, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFMC, Ohio
^Risen, James (19 April 2012). "A Military and Intelligence Clash Over Spy Satellites". The New York Times. ...the director of the National Reconnaissance Office, the secret agency that manages the nation's spy satellites, resigned Wednesday. Bruce Carlson, the director, issued a statement saying that he is leaving the reconnaissance office, which is part of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, a spokeswoman for the office said.
1. Emeritus general authorities are individuals who have been released from active duties as general authorities. However, they remain general authorities of the church until their death. Except for the three former members of the Presiding Bishopric noted, all living emeritus general authorities are former members of the First or Second Quorums of the Seventy. 2. These former members of the Presiding Bishopric did not serve as a Seventy during their time as a general authority.
.jpg)
