The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Russell J. Anarde, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. General Anarde distinguished himself as Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, from 22 August 1999 to 30 June 2002. During this period of unprecedented change and challenge for the United States, General Anarde was instrumental in developing and implementing strategy, policy, doctrine and long-range plans to control and exploit space. He led Air Force Space Command’s 65 billion dollar strategic planning and programming efforts, guaranteeing the United States uninterrupted access to space, and executed the historic realignment of Space and Missile Systems Center under Air Force Space Command to combine space acquisition and operations under one single command. General Anarde’s nonstop leadership paved the way for documenting effective command and control of space systems and expanded space doctrinal concepts during the rewrite of the Air Force Space Operations doctrine. His transformational vision was the driving force behind implementation of the Space Expeditionary Air Force Concept of Operations, development of reusable launch vehicle partnerships with the national Aeronautics and Space Administration, and creation of the Air Force Space Command Space Analysis Center, establishing space as an integral part of the total Air Force combat capability. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Anarde culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.