You Can Find Peace in Space Force
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
United States Space Forces - Space (S4S) Director of Intelligence Colonel Nathaniel Peace, '00, protects the Nation's interests in space. (Photo: TSgt Luke Kitterman)
Established in 2019, the Space Force ensures the United States maintains its leadership and security in an increasingly contested space domain. Colonel Nathaniel Peace, '00, leads and works alongside Space Force Guardians to protect satellites that provide essential services critical to mass communications, public safety, weather monitoring and military technology.
“Space Force is vital for the United States’ prosperity and security,” said Colonel Peace. “As space becomes increasingly congested, protecting these assets is crucial, particularly against threats from other nations. Space has become a contested warfighting domain, with record-setting launches and military satellite deployments from U.S. competitors and adversaries.”
As U.S. Space Forces - Space (S4S) Director of Intelligence, Colonel Peace oversees assessments that help uncover and understand threats in space. He supports space operations that create deterrent and responsive actions to discourage adversaries from making those threats a reality.
“Located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, S4S plans and conducts global space operations that protect and defend our nation and enable us to deliver combat relevant space effects to the warfighter,” explained Colonel Peace. “Through day-to-day competition, S4S has five distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, two Command and Control Deltas, and Space Force combat squadrons and combat detachments that preserve the United States' strategic advantage and enables non-escalatory responses. Should deterrence fail, the Space Force must protect the Nation and its Allies from space-enabled attacks.”
Proudly selected for the United States Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, Colonel Peace graduated in 2023 with the highest academic honors and a Master of Strategic Studies with a concentration in grand strategy.
Deeply Rooted Pursuits
Colonel Peace has dedicated his career to serving and protecting his Nation, although he never thought it would expand to space.
At age 11, Colonel Peace moved from Freeport, Illinois, to Anchorage, Alaska, when his father became an air traffic controller. He would watch F-15Es, C-5s, and C-17s flying into the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In 1990, he developed a profound interest in the Iraq War, often skipping school to watch press conferences or coverage of military operations on TV. After moving back to Illinois in 1991 to finish his senior year at Rochelle Township High School, he enlisted as a communications operator and maintainer in the Air Force. At only 18 years old, Colonel Peace fulfilled his goals of serving in the Air Force and working closely with pilots while maintaining radios connected to satellites in space.
Grant Gratitude
For the rest of his career, Colonel Peace expressed deep appreciation for and credited the state of Illinois and its great residents for their unwavering support of military veterans through the Illinois Veterans’ Grant.
“The Illinois Veterans’ Grant is one of the most transformational educational programs in the United States,” said Colonel Peace. “This grant allows honorably discharged veterans who have resided in Illinois for six months before entering service to receive free tuition at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges. When I was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1997 to attend Northern Illinois University, this grant was instrumental in achieving my educational goals. It fundamentally and positively changed my life, enabling me to dedicate my life to serving the Nation and the local communities I have been part of since graduating from NIU.”
Colonel Peace frequented NIU’s campus while at Rochelle Township High School. He attended musical performances, theatre productions, and lectures open to the public. He always felt a sense of belonging and positive energy when on campus. While an NIU student, he studied economics and business and aspired to learn a foreign language. When the Spanish and French classes were full, Colonel Peace chose Russian as it was the only available language class that fit his schedule.
“This unexpected choice proved to be fortuitous,” he said.
Colonel Peace graduated with academic honors. His emphasis on international politics, with a focus on Russian language and history, provided the foundation he needed to become a successful officer in the Air Force and now in the Space Force.
After enduring a year-long application process for the highly competitive Officer Training School, Colonel Peace commissioned in 2002 and secured a spot in his field of choice: intelligence. He has held positions at varying military echelons over his 27 year career from the detachment and squadron-level to staff tours at headquarters U.S. Air Force and U.S. Central Command. He is grateful for his military adventures and lasting memories with fellow service members from all military branches.
Colonel Nathaniel Peace poses with his wife, Maria, and their son, Zachary, who provide endless support and love.(Photo: TSgt Luke Kitterman)
Reflecting on Military Moments
“I’ve seen Wonders of the World to architecture marvels,” Peace said. “I have had the opportunity to visit all 50 states and travel to South Korea, Japan, Cuba, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. I enjoy traveling, learning about different cultures and histories, and trying new foods.”
Colonel Peace says his career flourished through the support of his loving family.
“My wife, Maria, is my hero and the most pivotal person in my life,” he said. “Military spouses are our nation’s unsung heroes, resiliently managing family life while their partners are often deployed or on temporary duty assignments. She has endured three deployments, two one-year geographic separations, and three military moves. Her unwavering love, support, and resilience have been fundamental to our family's strength—she is the one person I strive to make proud every day.”
Colonel Peace makes it a point to tell Maria and their son, Zachary, how much he loves them every day because “tomorrow is not a guarantee,” he says. They, along with friends and co-workers, have provided support and encouragement while navigating the transition to Space Force, which brings Colonel Peace's interests full circle.
“I became fascinated with outer space when I was a child watching space shuttle launches on television,” Colonel Peace said. “This early interest in space exploration stayed with me throughout my life and was pivotal in my decision to transfer to the United States Space Force.”
Colonel Peace is honored to prepare Space Force Guardians for an increasingly unpredictable space environment.
“Nations like China and Russia are actively seeking to militarize space to usurp the United States’ strategic advantages militarily and economically,” he said. “Our preparation is vital for addressing the complex challenges of this evolving global order and ensuring that our Guardians are organized, trained, and equipped to handle technological, strategic, operational, and tactical demands. Dedication to excellence and readiness is crucial for maintaining the United States' strategic advantage, prosperity and security.”
The Department of Defense requested that the following disclaimer be provided: The views and opinions presented herein are those of Nathaniel Peace and the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its Components. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute DoD endorsement of the linked websites, or the information, products or service therein.