About

AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. We’re pushing the boundaries and creating a new tomorrow through unparalleled research.

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Lead

We’re not content to compete—AFRL leads the way. Where others follow, we forge our own path. When others say it’s impossible, our team finds a way.

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Discover

Excitement for what’s possible drives us forward. There are many challenges—global and domestic—ahead, but we thrive when tasked with finding a solution that seems undiscoverable.

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Develop

Finding the answer is just the beginning. We grow and expand new ideas until they’re scalable, cost-effective and safe for our world.

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Deliver

Our world needs complete solutions. In order to give our warfighters an unmatched advantage, we keep our promises and surpass expectations.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Our commitment to innovation gives us the drive to constantly push the envelope and deliver the technology that keeps us prepared for the future.

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Chief Information Officer

Ms. Alexis Bonnell

Alexis Bonnell is the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. She is responsible to develop and execute the AFRL Information Technology strategy, leading the strategic development of highly advanced next generation technologies and platforms for AFRL. Her focus includes catalyzing the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces via digital capabilities, IT infrastructure and technological innovation across the lab’s operations and culture.

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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.

A Legacy of Innovation

From our beginnings at McCook Field in 1917 to the modern day, nearly every aerospace technology in the last century has been influenced by AFRL. Here are just a few of the ways we have shaped the world around around us.

A Legacy of Innovation

From our beginnings at McCook Field in 1917 to the modern day, nearly every aerospace technology in the last century has been influenced by AFRL. Here are just a few of the ways we have shaped the world around around us.

  • The Wright Brothers execute the first controlled powered flight.

    1903
  • U.S. Army Signal Corps broke ground for McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, the largest and most diverse of several experimental engineering facilities established around the nation.

    1917
  • McCook’s Freddy Verville designed the Verville-Clark Pursuit-Racer (VCP-R), the first of the lab’s air racers, which served as an important tool for technology demonstration and promotion in the inter-war years.

    1920
  • The biggest paradigm shift for aircraft in the interwar period was the switch from wood and cloth to metal, beginning with structural members and armor, as seen on the experimental ground attack plane, the GAX.

    1920
  • The new Wright Field, donated by the people of Dayton who wanted to keep the McCook Field Engineering Division from leaving, provided a fresh start and room for growth.

    1927
  • The Equipment Branch invented and developed technologies associated with airplanes beyond the engine and airframe such as guidance and navigation systems, survival equipment, parachutes, cameras and airport lighting.

    1932
  • Design of the steel pressure vessel and windows resulted in the Lockheed XC-35 becoming the first successful pressure cabin aircraft and earned Wright Field the prestigious Collier Trophy.

    1935
  • The first U.S. operational jet engine, J-31, is produced.

    1943
  • During WWII, Army Air Forces Commanding General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold was determined to build up the service’s in-house R&D infrastructure, beginning with the experimental engineering establishment at Wright Field.

    1945
Background image for timeline - old group shot of Air Force team