Colonel Pete Stiglich, Ret. (R-CA-1)

Colonel Pete Stiglich, Ret. Congressional Candidate California District 1

Biography of Colonel Pete Stiglich, Ret.

Pete Stiglich is a native of California. He was born in Los Angeles in 1953 into a typical middle class family. A few years later, his family moved north to the Bay Area where his father worked for United States Steel Corporation (USS) and served in the Air Force Reserves based out of Travis AFB. Around 1963, the Stiglich family headed east to the ‘Steel City’, where USS had opened its new Pittsburgh, PA headquarters.

While in Pittsburgh, Pete completed junior and senior high school and attended Slippery Rock State College, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Upon graduation in 1975, he was hired by the Moon Area School District in Coraopolis, PA to teach 8th and 9th grade speech and English. He also served as the school’s speech/debate coach and head baseball coach.

After completing 3+ years of teaching, Pete decided to enter the United States Air Force to serve his country. He attended Officer Training School at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. During his very successful Air Force career, Pete developed extraordinary leadership and management skills in numerous command positions.

Pete’s primary field of expertise was major weapon system acquisition. In this capacity, Pete conscientiously represented the American taxpayer in extensive and complex dealings with major aerospace defense contractors, including E-Systems, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell, Brown and Root, Boeing and Loral Corporation. His success in these endeavors was recognized by steady promotion, allowing him to achieve the rank of full colonel.

During his military career, Pete completed his Masters of Science Degree in Management and Human Resources from Abilene Christian University.

Overseas tours included serving as a United Nations (UN) Military Observer in Cambodia in support of a UN-sponsored peace accord and to Bosnia/Croatia/Hungary in support of NATO operations. Both locations were classified as hostile fire zones.

He retired from the Air Force in 2006 after 26 years of dedicated, honorable service to his country.

His military decorations are many and include the Legion of Merit, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Air Force Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, two Joint Service Achievement Medals, Air Force Achievement Medal, NATO Medal, two United Nations Medals, Cambodian Medal of Reconstruction (foreign medal presented by the Cambodian Prime Minister), and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

His military awards include the Defense Logistics Agency’s Team Performance Award in 1997, Headquarters Strategic Air Command’s Outstanding Contracting Officer of FY88, Air Education and Training Command’s Best Contracting Officer in 2000, and Air Education and Training Command’s General Thomas P. Gerrity 2000 Award.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Pete returned to his ranch in Cottonwood, CA, becoming an active volunteer within the civilian and veterans communities.

Pete’s a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Anderson, where he has served as a reader of the liturgy. He’s also a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1934, Redding, CA, the Military Officers Association, and the Air Force Association. Colonel Pete is also a member of the Bostonian Tea Party and the North State Tea Party Alliance.

Additionally, Pete is chairman of the Shasta County Republican Assembly and is a member of the National Rifle Association, the California Gun Owners Association and is a Friend of Anderson Rotary.

Finally, other volunteer activities include the Northern California Veterans Cemetery Board of Directors, Cottonwood Community Park Board of Directors, Military Officers Association Board of Directors and Legislative Liaison/Vice President of Shasta County Veterans Affiliated Council.

Military Career

Colonel Pete Stiglich assumed command of Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Lockheed Martin Sunnyvale on 3 June 2003. In this position, he led ninety-eight DCMA military and civilian professionals providing critical contract management services to seven prime DoD Acquisition Category 1 and 2 programs valued at over $34B. Major programs included the Fleet Ballistic Missile, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Space Based Infrared System, Advanced Extremely High Frequency, Mobile User Objective System and numerous NASA scientific programs.

Colonel Stiglich was the senior, on-site DoD representative, serving as primary liaison between contractor and government agencies, responsible for developing and implementing strategies to deliver joint and service-unique weapon systems to America’s warriors.

Colonel Stiglich relinquished command of DCMA Lockheed Martin Sunnyvale in January 2006. He retired from active duty with the United States Air Force effective 1 May 2006 after 26 years of dedicated and loyal service to the United States of America.

Education

1997 Air War College
1988 Masters Degree in Management & Human Resources
1986 Air Command & Staff College
1986 Squadron Officer School
1985 Marine Corps Command & Staff

Assignments

Jun 03 – Jan 06, Commander, DCMA Lockheed Martin Sunnyvale
Jul 01 – Jun 03, Chief, Office of Strategic Sourcing, National Security Agency
Jun 99 – Jul 01, Commander, 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler AFB MS
Jan 96 – Jun 99, Commander, DCMC Dayton-Newark, Heath, OH
Jan 94 – Jan 96, OIC Loral Residency, DCMC New York, New York, NY
Jul 93 – Jan 94, United Nations in Somalia Desk Officer, Field Operations Division, UN Headquarters, New York, NY
Nov 92 – Jul 93, Team Leader, United Nations Military Observer, UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia
Jun 91 – Nov 92, Program Manager, Joint Services Imagery Processing System Production Program, Hanscom AFB MA
Jun 90 – Jun 91, Deputy Director, Manufacturing/Quality for Intelligence and C3CM Systems, Hanscom AFB MA
May 89 – Jun 90, Education with Industry, Air Force Institute of Technology, General Dynamics Corporation, San Diego, CA
Aug 86 – May 89, Chief, Operational Contracting Division, Dyess AFB TX
Mar 85 – Aug 86, Contract Management Officer, Contracting Division, Vandenberg AFB CA
Mar 84 – Mar 85, Protocol Officer, First Strategic Aerospace Division, Vandenberg AFB CA
Sep 80 – Mar 84, Executive Support Officer, Wurtsmith AFB MI