The chief scientist of the Air Force is the most senior science and technology representative in the United States Department of the Air Force. The most recent chief scientist of the United States Air Force was Victoria Coleman, sworn in on April 6, 2021 through July 12, 2024.

Roles and responsibilities The Chief Scientist of the Air Force has several roles and responsibilities, including:

Serves as chief science and technology adviser to the chief of staff of the Air Force, the chief of space operations, and the secretary of the Air Force Provides assessments on a wide range of scientific and technical issues affecting the Air Force mission Identifies and analyzes technical issues and brings them to the attention of Air Force leaders, and interacts with other Air Staff principals, operational commanders, combatant commands, acquisition, and science and technology communities to address cross-organizational technical issues and solutions Interacts with other services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense on issues affecting the Air Force in-house technical enterprise Serves on the Steering Committee and Senior Review Group of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Principal science and technology representative of the Air Force to the civilian scientific and engineering community and to the public at large

Products of the Office of the Chief Scientist The Office of the Chief Scientist has conducted several strategic studies including:

Technology Horizons Energy Horizons Cyber Vision 2025, summarized in the Armed Forces Journal Global Horizons

Chronological list of Chief Scientists of the Air Force PictureNameTerm of Office DoctorateChief of StaffSecretaryMilitary Assistant38VacantKenneth S. WilsbachTroy E. MeinkCol(s) Melanie Mace (2026-) Col Timothy W.C. Zens (2024-2026) 37 Dr. Victoria Coleman April 6, 2021 – July 12, 2024 University of Manchester, Computer Science, 1988 Charles Q. Brown Jr. John P. Roth Col David Montminy (2022-2024)Col Jason Vap (2021-2022)Col Mario Serna (2019-2021) David W. Allvin Frank Kendall III 36 Dr. Richard J. Joseph January 2018 – April 5, 2021 University of Texas at Austin, Physics, 1979 Charles Q. Brown Jr. Barbara Barrett Col Mario Serna (2019-2021)Col Michelle Ewy (2016-2019) David L. Goldfein Heather Wilson 35 Dr. Greg Zacharias June 2015 – January 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Instrumentation, Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1977 Mark Welsh Deborah Lee James Col Michelle Ewy (2016–2019)Col Anne L. Clark (2015–2016) 34 Dr. Mica Endsley June 2013 – May 2015 University of Southern California, Industrial & Systems Engineering, 1990 Mark Welsh Deborah Lee James Col Anne L. Clark (2014-2015)Col James (Monty) Greer (2013-2014) 33 Dr. Mark T. Maybury October 2010– May 2013 University of Cambridge, Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence), 1991 Mark Welsh Michael B. Donley Col James (Monty) Greer (2012–2013)Col Rod Miller (2011–2012)Col Eric Silkowski (2010–2011) Norton A. Schwartz 32 Dr. Werner J. A. Dahm October 2008– September 30, 2010 California Institute of Technology, Aeronautics, 1985 Norton A. Schwartz Michael B. Donley Col Eric Silkowski (2008–2010) 31 Dr. Mark J. Lewis October 2004 – October 2008 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aeronautics & Astronautics, 1988 Norton A. Schwartz Michael B. Donley Col Robert Fredell (2006–2008)T. Michael MoseleyMichael Wynne John P. Jumper James G. Roche Col Daniel DeForest (2004–2006) 30 Dr. Alexander H. Levis 2001–2004 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering (Control Systems), 1968 John P. Jumper James G. Roche Col Daniel DeForest (2004)Col John Bedford (Sept. 2001 to 2003)Col Donald Erbschloe (-Dec 2001) 29 Dr. Louis S. Metzger 1999–2001 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering, 1975 Michael E. Ryan James G. RocheLawrence J. DelaneyF. Whitten Peters Col Donald Erbschloe (1998–2001) 28 Dr. Daniel E. Hastings 1997–1999 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Plasma Physics, 1980; (B.A. Oxford in Mathematics) F. Whitten Peters 27 Dr. Ed Feigenbaum 1994–1997 Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) Ronald R. Fogleman Sheila E. Widnall Col Harvey Dahljelm (1994–1998) Merrill A. McPeak 26 Dr. George R. Abrahamson 1991–1994 Merrill A. McPeak Merrill A. McPeakMichael B. DonleyDonald B. Rice Col James Whiting (1991–1994) 25 Dr. Robert W. Selden 1988–1991 John M. LohMichael DuganLarry D. Welch Donald B. RiceJohn J. Welch, Jr.James F. McGovern Col Dan Heitz (1988–1989) and Col John Woody (1989–1991) 24 Dr. Harold W. Sorenson 1985–1988 UCLA, Electrical Engineering, 1966 Larry D. WelchCharles A. Gabriel Edward C. Aldridge Jr.Russell A. RourkeeVerne Orr Col Robert Hovde (1983–1987) and Col Robert Lancaster (1987–1988) 23 Allen R. Stubberud 1983–1985 UCLA, Engineering Charles A. Gabriel Verne Orr Col Robert Hovde (1983–1987) 22 Edwin B. Stear 1979–1982 Lew Allen Jr. Hans Mark Col Michael Mottern (1982–1983)Col Robert Bannach (1981–1982) 21 Harry L. Van Trees 1978–1979 John C. Stetson Col Robert Dundervill Jr. (1977–1981) 20 Fumio Robert Naka 1975–1978 David C. Jones John C. StetsonThomas C. ReedJames W. Plummer BGen Charles Cabell Jr. (1976–1977) 19 Dr. Michael I. Yarymovych 1973–1975 B. Eng Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering, New York University 1955, D Eng SC, 1960 Columbia University, Institute of Flight Structures David C. JonesGeorge S. BrownJohn Dale Ryan James W. PlummerJohn L. McLucas Col James Strub (1974–1976) 18 Dr. Eugene E. Covert 1972–1973 MIT PhD Magnetohydrodynamics John D. Ryan Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Col Thaddeus Welch Jr. (1971–1974) 17 Dr. James W. Mar 1970–1972 MIT Undergraduate 1941; PhD MIT, Civil Engineering LtCol Frank Attinger Jr. (1966–1971) 16 John J. Welch, Jr. 1969–1970 Undergraduate MIT Mechanical Engineering 1951 15 John C. Fisher 1968–1969 Undergraduate Ohio State, Physics, MIT PhD John P. McConnell Robert C. Seamans, Jr.Harold Brown 14 Robert H. Cannon, Jr. 1966–1968 University of Rochester 1944 PhD Mechanical Engineering MIT 1950 Harold Brown 13 Robert G. Loewy 1965–1966 RPI, MIT Masters 1948 Col Mike Zubon (1962–1966) 12 Dr. Winston R. Markey 1964–1965 BS Aeronautical Engineering, MIT, 1951, PhD MIT Aero Instrumentation John P. McConnellCurtis E. LeMay Eugene M. Zuckert 11 Dr. Robert W. Buchheim 1963–1964 Curtis E. LeMay 10 Dr. Launor F. Carter 1962–1963 Physiology 9 Dr. Leonard S. Sheingold 1961–1962 Col Loyd Jensen (1961–1962) 8 Alexander H. Flax 1959–1961 New York University, Aeronautical Engineering, 1940Thomas D. White Dudley C. SharpJames H. Douglas, Jr. Col David Pearsall (1957–1961) 7 Joseph V. Charyk 1959 Univ of Alberta, Engineering Physics 1942; California Institute of Technology PhD 1946 James H. Douglas, Jr. 6 George E. Valley Jr. 1957–1958 University of Rochester, Physics, 1939 5 Courtland D. Perkins 1956–1957 M.S. MIT 1941; Princeton Honorary PhD, 2001Nathan F. Twining James H. Douglas, Jr.Donald A. Quarles Col John Taylor (1954–1957) 4 Dr. Horton Guyford Stever 1955–1956 California Institute of Technology, Physics, 1941 Donald A. QuarlesHarold E. Talbott 3 Dr. Chalmers W. Sherwin 1954–1955 University of Chicago, Experimental Physics 1940 (with Arthur Dempster) Harold E. Talbott 2 David T. Griggs 1951–1952 Junior Fellow in Geology at University of HarvardHoyt S. VandenbergThomas K. Finletter Col Theodore Walkowicz(1950–1954) 1 Dr. Louis N. Ridenour reported to MGen Gordon P. Saville DCS/D 1950–1951 California Institute of Technology, Physics, 1936 Col Peter Shenk (1950) – Gen James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle (Special Assistant for Scientific Matters) 1951 MIT Sc.D. in Aeronautics, June 1925 – Dr. Ivan Alexander Getting (Special Assistant for Evaluation) 1950 University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar), Astrophysics, 1935William S. Symington

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