Brigadier General Wayne Monteith, USAF (Retired), is currently Vice President and Project Manager for Bechtel National, Inc., supporting Defense and Space business development and strategy in the space, hypersonic, and nuclear arenas. General Monteith is a distinguished aerospace leader, with a long career of public service in the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As the Associate Administrator of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) at the FAA from 2019 to 2022, General Monteith played a pivotal role in regulating and licensing the US commercial space transportation industry. His leadership resulted in an 85% reduction in launch and reentry regulations: enhancing public safety while achieving a 100% launch licensing rate increase. Notably, he oversaw the safe operation of over 150 commercial space operations, including historic missions by SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin.

During his tenure as Commander of the 45th Space Wing and Director of the Eastern Range at Patrick AFB, FL, from 2015 to 2018, General Monteith tripled annual operational capacity, facilitated multiple launches in a single day, and led the first-ever total hurricane evacuations at Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral AFS. His distinguished military career also included roles as Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary and Secretary of the Air Force and as Commander of the 50th Space Wing, where he oversaw the optimization of the Air Force Satellite Control Network and the successful operation of 61 satellites valued at over $9 billion.

General Monteith's commitment to excellence is reflected in his various public speaking engagements and his status as a life member of the Air Force Association, Military Officers Association of America, and Association of Air Force Missileers. His exceptional contributions to aerospace leadership underscore his relentless pursuit of advancing the capabilities and safety of space transportation, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.