Dant to assume command at Buckley Published July 8, 2011 By John Spann 460th Space Wing Public Affairs BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo-- -- Col. Daniel A. Dant, a 21 year Air Force officer, will assume command of the 460th Space Wing during ceremonies here on July 11, 2011. "It is a true honor and privilege for me to be taking command of the 460th Space Wing, it's really a dream come true" said Colonel Dant. "I look forward to working with our outstanding Airmen and total force leaders at Buckley as well as the 77 base partners and the Aurora community--I can't wait to accept the flag from Lt. Gen. Susan, Helms (14th Air Force commander) and get started commanding this world class wing!" Col. Trent Pickering, 460th Space Wing vice commander, has been fulfilling the role as the wing commander since Col. Clint Crosier relinquished command in April. Colonel Dant entered the Air Force in 1990 as a distinguished graduate of the East Carolina University ROTC program. After a tour as an ICBM instructor and evaluator, he transitioned to space operations as a flight commander for the PAVE PAWS warning radar in Cape Cod, Mass. He was then one of 50 U.S. Air Force Captains selected for the prestigious Air Force Intern Program at the Pentagon. He interned on the Air Staff in the Directorate of Operational Requirements, for the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Strategy and Requirements, and attended a Masters program at George Washington University. Colonel Dant then completed the rigorous Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev. As a space weapons officer, he served on the Air Force Space Support Teams at Schriever AFB, Colo., where he deployed numerous times to integrate space capabilities into theater operations. Colonel Dant served as the Commander, 4th Space Control Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M. His unit was responsible for delivering Defensive and Offensive Counterspace capabilities and space situation awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns. Colonel Dant's staff assignments include duties as the commander of the weapons and tactics flight for the 21st Space Wing and speechwriter for the Commander of Air Force Space Command, Commander in chief NORAD, and CINCSPACE. He also served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, AFSPC. Colonel Dant most recently completed his assignment as a Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow with duty as the Director of Space Policy for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy where he helped write the President's 2010 National Space Policy and the first-ever National Security Space Strategy. He has commanded at the flight and squadron levels.