Department of the Air Force

Department of the Air Force

AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: Distinguished Executive

Marilyn M. Thomas

Deputy Chief Management Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force

Marilyn Thomas is responsible for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations. Ms. Thomas also serves as the Director of Business Transformation and oversees implementation of continuous process improvement initiatives.

Distinguished Executive

• Michael A. Gill
  Air Force Materiel Command Executive Director
  Michael A. Gill advises the commander in managing the delivery/support of agile, war-winning capabilities through leading-edge S&T, life cycle management, T&E, and supply chain management.
• Richard K. Hartley
  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment and Energy)
  Mr. Hartley is responsible for the formulation and execution of plans, policies, programs and budgets to meet installation, energy, environment, safety and occupational health objectives.

Meritorious Executive

• Ricky L. Peters
  Air Force Research Laboratory Executive Director
  Ricky L. Peters partners with the AFRL Commander, managing a $5B portfolio, and delivering science and technology breakthroughs for the warfighter.
• John S. Wilcox
  Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Director
  Dr. John S. Wilcox leads the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting conventional air-launched weapon technologies for the U.S. Air Force.
• Joseph McDade
  Air Force Principal Deputy General Counsel
  Mr. McDade provides oversight and direction regarding Air Force legal matters. He has served for over 10 years in a variety of DoD SES positions.
• Caral Spangler
  Deputy for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller
  Ms. Spangler has served as an SES in all 4 Services and OSD. She is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (FM&C). (Ms. Spangler’s current agency is Department of the Army.)
• James F. Geurts
  Acquisition Executive, United States Special Operations Command
  A career acquisition leader, Mr. Geurts is responsible for the research, development, acquisition, procurement and logistics for all United States Special Operations Forces.
• John A. Wilcox
  J6/Chief Information Officer, United States Special Operations Command
  A career communicator, Mr Wilcox is responsible for IT Strategy, network operations, and the C4 acquisition program for all United States Special Operations Forces.

Distinguished Senior Professional

• Janet S. Fender, PhD
  Chief Scientist, USAF Air Combat Command
  Dr. Janet S. Fender is Chief Scientist, USAF Air Combat Command. AF Research Laboratory positions included Chief Scientist Space Vehicles and Senior Scientist Directed Energy/Imaging.

Meritorious Senior Professional

• Steven K. Rogers
  Air Force Senior Scientist for Automatic Target Recognition and Sensor Fusion
  Dr. Steven Rogers pioneered efforts advancing machine intelligence for AF data-to-knowledge challenges, to defeat terrorist networks and cyber attacks.
• Robert E. Peterkin
  Air Force Chief Scientist for Directed Energy
  Dr. Robert E. Peterkin, is responsible for all AF research and development of high energy lasers, high power microwaves/dense plasmas, and advanced optical technologies.
• Gregory G. Spanjers
  Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
  Dr Spanjers is Chief Scientist for the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate and Capability Lead for S&T investments in both Space Superiority and Nuclear Deterrence.