Ms. Amanda Kato serves as Director of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Enterprise Center. In this capacity, she serves as the primary advisor to and executes responsibilities assigned by the Commander, United States Strategic Command serving as the Department of Defense NC3 Enterprise Lead. She oversees NC3 operations, maintains enterprise-wide visibility, and assesses comprehensive operational and technical risk. With NC3 stakeholders’ collaboration, she develops and advocates future capabilities, architectures, and risk management options supporting Presidential and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff objectives.
Additionally, Ms. Kato guides the direction and improvement of the Department-wide NC3 Enterprise technical architecture; sustainment and modernization of the existing NC3 Enterprise; and on-time synchronization of design and fielding of future NC3 capabilities supporting today’s nuclear triad and future nuclear triad weapon systems.
Ms. Kato graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She also earned Master’s degrees in Administrative Sciences (Organizational Management) from The George Washington University, Military Operational Art and Science from Air University (Air Command and Staff College), and Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. She has extensive experience in defense acquisition, fighters, bombers, NC3, and systems integration for airborne, ground, and mobile capabilities.
Ms. Kato retired from the USAF in 2021 after 29 years of service in various operational and staff positions including 25th Flying Training Squadron Adjutant, 509th Bomb Wing Emergency Actions Controller, 509th Bomb Wing Protocol Chief, and 509th Operations Group Executive Officer. As an acquisition officer and program manager, she led programs to develop, test, produce, field and/or sustain capabilities in: directed energy; air-to-air training for F-15/F-15E/F-16; low collateral damage air-to-ground munitions for F-15E/F-16/F-22/F-35/AC-130; F-22 software; the KC-46; and military satellite communications terminals and conferencing systems for NC3 and other applications. Ms. Kato served as a Program Element Monitor responsible for Airborne Laser and Air Force Missile Defense Center equities, B-1, and Next Generation Bomber planning, budget, and execution. She commanded the 681st Armament Systems Squadron and was the Senior Materiel Leader for the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals Division. Ms. Kato’s final assignment on active duty was serving as the Air Force Program Executive Officer for NC3 Systems and Director, NC3 Integration Directorate.
As a career military officer, Ms. Kato was awarded two Legion of Merit, six Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal. She held a Department of Defense Acquisition Corps Level III certification in Program Management and Level I in Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Kato worked in the private sector as a: defense consultant on NC3 capabilities; cohort mentor for mid-career corporate women in leadership programs; and master professional certified life and leadership coach.
(Current as of September 2024)
Ms. Kato biography