About

Commander

Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei

Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei is the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Technology Executive Officer supporting both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. He leads an over $5 billion science, technology, and innovation enterprise in accelerating the discovery and development of solutions for Airmen and Guardians. He is responsible for formulating a comprehensive technology portfolio that anticipates future warfighter needs while promoting risk-taking and problem-solving across a 6,000-member government workforce. He accelerates the delivery of multi-disciplinary solutions through partnerships with industry, academia and international allies, and executes an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development. Through the laboratory’s technology and functional directorates, AFWERX, and the 711th Human Performance Wing, his team produces a deep technical and medical bench, pushes the boundaries of modern technology, and improves the science for tomorrow.

Executive Director

Mr. Timothy Sakulich

Mr. Timothy Sakulich, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Executive Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Mr. Sakulich is responsible for more than 900 personnel, developing the next generation materials and manufacturing techniques for our nation’s defense. The vision of his organization is to provide world-class leadership in materials and manufacturing for our Airmen. The Materials and Manufacturing Directorate is the only Air Force organization to oversee the entire life cycle of aerospace materials from discovery through processing, development and manufacturing, to sustainment of fielded systems.

Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Timothy J. Bunning

Dr. Timothy J. Bunning, a member of the Scientific and Professional Cadre of Senior Executives, is Chief Technology Officer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. As the primary science and technology advisor to the AFRL Commander, he is responsible for assisting with the planning and execution of an annual $2.8 billion Air Force science and technology program and considerable resources executed on behalf of a variety of customers. He serves as the corporate-level science and technology interface for a government workforce of nearly 6,000 people in the laboratory’s nine technology directorates and 711th Human Performance Wing.

Deputy Commander

Col. Karl W. Seekamp

Col. Karl W. Seekamp is Deputy Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He aids the commander in leading more than 12,500 people to execute a 5-billion-dollar budget to discover, develop, and integrate warfighting technologies for the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Space Force (USSF). He oversees a 127-million-dollar budget to upgrade state-of-the-art research facilities distributed globally across 21 sites, and he directs the AFRL Headquarters’ (HQ) daily operations, including managing the 219-million-dollar AFRL HQ budget.

Command Chief

CMSgt. Carlos E. Labrador

CMSgt Carlos E. Labrador is the Command Chief, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is the senior enlisted leader and the primary advisor to the commander on all matters regarding the readiness, training, development, and effective utilization of a 6,500-member workforce that spans across the globe through the laboratory’s technology and functional directorates, the 711th Human Performance Wing and AFWERX. Chief Labrador assists the commander in the implementation of a $3 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise and a $3 billion external research and development program.

Deputy Technology Executive Officer

Dr. Andrew D. Williams

Dr. Andrew ‘Andy’ Williams is the Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Space at the Air Force Research Laboratory responsible for integrating and executing AFRL’s space science and technology investments to deliver cutting edge technical capability to the U.S. Space Force.

Prior to his selection as the D-TEO, Williams served as the Space Mission Area Lead for AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate, coordinating the lab’s customer engagement strategy and ensuring synchronization with the tech needs of USSF, Space Operations Command, and Space System Command. He also led engagements with partners in the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, industry, and academia.

UNITED STATES

AIR FORCE

The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win – airpower anytime, anywhere. Whether full time, part time, in or out of uniform, everyone who serves plays a critical role in helping us achieve mission success.

The U.S. Air Force is the world’s preeminent force in air, space and cyberspace. We maintain that distinction by maintaining our objective of global vigilance, reach and power and remaining true to our vision statement: The World’s Greatest Air Force—Powered by Airmen, Fueled by Innovation. Through shared values, key capabilities and upholding our Airman’s Creed, we continue to achieve our mission and aim high in all we do.

Mobilization Assistant

Col. Brian J. Pearson

Col. Brian J. Pearson is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He plays a key role in directing the Air Force’s $5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise and an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development across a 6,000-member government workforce, pushing the boundaries of modern technology for warfighter needs.  He influences strategies leading to the discovery and development of technologies for future warfighter needs.

Col. Pearson received his commission in 1998 through a Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute. He has served in both Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) and traditional Reservist roles from 2012 to present. Before his service as an acquisition officer, he operationally flew C-130s and B-1s. He deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia and as aircrew in Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. He has a diverse background with experiences from assignments in the Combat Air Forces, Mobility Air Forces, flying training and life-cycle systems management.

UNITED STATES

SPACE FORCE

The U.S. Space Force was established on Dec. 20, 2019, creating the first new branch of the armed services since 1947. The establishment of the USSF resulted from widespread recognition that space is a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by strategic competitors in space, it became clear that there was a need for a military service focused solely on pursuing superiority in the space domain.

While the Space Force is the newest service, the Department of Defense has been working in the space domain since the beginning of space exploration. The Space Force consolidates satellite acquisition, budget and workforce from across more than 60 different organizations into a unified, efficient, effective service for space operations.