Greaves assumes MDA command from Syring

Air Force Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves assumed leadership of the Missile Defense Agency on June 16, replacing Navy Vice Adm. James Syring who had led MDA since November 2012.

Greaves will be the 10th director of U.S. military efforts to develop technology to counter enemy ballistic missiles since 1984. The office began as the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, was renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in 1993, and became the Missile Defense Agency in 2002.

The Air Force three-star general was commander of Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and program executive officer for space at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA.

Before that, Greaves was MDA deputy director, from August 2012 to June 2014.

Greaves, who has three decades of experience in military space activities -- including acquisition and operations -- assumes responsibility of MDA as some missile-defense proponents are calling for increased use of space, from sensors to interceptors, to counter enemy ballistic missiles.

MDA, a sprawling organization that employs more than 8,000 military, civilian and contract personnel, is based at Ft. Belvoir, VA, maintains a substantial presence in Redstone Arsenal, AL, and maintains a presence across 14 times zones, according to an organization fact sheet.

MDA is seeking $7.9 billion in fiscal year 2018.

According to an MDA spokesman, Syring is retiring from military service.