Brig. Gen. Heather W. Blackwell is the Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network.
As the JFHQ-DODIN Deputy Commander, she leads command and control of DODIN Operations and Defensive Cyberspace Operations – Internal Defense Measures synchronizing DODIN defense actions and synthesizing global intelligence sharing to deter adversary attacks to enable power projection, freedom of action, and mission assurance across all warfighting domains.
Brig. Gen. Blackwell graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1997. She has served in a variety of assignments to include: Commander of the 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Commander of the 690th Cyberspace Operations Group at JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; Commander 87th Communications Squadron at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; the Director of Legislative Affairs for U.S. Cyber Command, a National Security Fellow in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, an Assistant Executive Officer for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and as an Air Force Legislative Fellow for Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) where she was responsible for his military and foreign relations portfolios.
She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Information Systems Management, from Hawaii Pacific University in Hawaii, and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Brig. Gen. Blackwell’s decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.