Shawn "Norm" Pederson

Colonel Shawn D. Pederson is the Assistant Deputy Director for Strategic Stability, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5), The Joint Staff, The Pentagon. In this role, he assists the Deputy Director (Senior Executive Service) in the formulation of Joint Staff positions and recommendations regarding strategic deterrence, nuclear policy, Department of Defense efforts to combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, strategic arms reduction negotiations and agreements, as well as other international negotiations and agreements. He leads and coordinates the efforts of 27 Joint Staff action officers and civilians as they support the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he advises the President, Secretary of Defense and the National Security Staff. Colonel Pederson entered the Air Force as a 1990 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in Political Science. Colonel Pederson has served as an instructor pilot in both the F-15E & F-16C/D aircraft, and has also served as the Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. Colonel Pederson has participated in numerous wartime operations over Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His staff experience includes being an Assistant Country Director for Central Europe/Eurasia in the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs Directorate, as well as a Branch Chief in the CHECKMATE Division. Colonel Pederson has served as the Commander of a fighter squadron, the Deputy Commander for both an operations and a maintenance group, and Vice Commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC. Prior to his current position, Colonel Pederson was the Senior Executive Assistant to the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, and the Assistant Deputy Director, Politico-Military Affairs, Western Hemisphere, both on the the Joint Staff. See my LinkedIn page for more!