Dr. Azar S. Ali, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Chief Scientist for Pacific Air Force Command. He is the senior science and technology adviser to the PACAF Commander, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He is also the highest ranking civilian in PACAF. PACAF's mission is to deliver rapid and precise air, space, and cyberspace capabilities to protect and defend the U.S., its territories, and interests; to provide integrated air and missile defense; to promote interoperability throughout the 36 nations in PACAF's area of responsibility; to maintain strategic access and freedom of movement across all domains; and to respond across the full spectrum of military contingencies in order to restore Asia-Pacific security.
Ali is the primary authority and integrator of PACAF's science and technology requirements. He evaluates, identifies and advocates for emergent air, space and cyberspace science and technology solutions, partnerships, and technology development. He provides technical expertise and experience necessary to authoritatively guide and serve as the senior interface between PACAF and the Air Force Research Laboratory, numbered Air Force commands, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Security Agency, other major commands, services, industry, federally funded research and development centers, and the scientific community at large. He participates in PACAF’s long range planning processes and informs long range concept and roadmap development. He mentors and develops members of the staff across the Pacific Air Force Command to assure technical quality and excellence in program execution in areas of highest interest to the Air Force. He serves as the air component senior science and technology representative in joint activities and meetings with other services across the Pacific Command.
From 2010 to 2014, Ali served as the Senior Strategic Technical Advisor for the Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He developed new and novel weapons concepts that incorporated the most advanced technologies for agile airframes, precision navigation, guidance and control, and terminal effects of air-launched air-to-air, air-to-ground, and penetration weapons. He worked closely with DARPA, AFRL Directorates, major commands, services, FFRDCs, industry, agencies and academia and initiated several large weapons and technology development programs. He also worked closely with the Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs and the Office of the Secretary of Defense and established project agreements with Italy and Germany.
From 1995 to 2010, Ali held a number of positions in the air-launched munitions community, including branch chief, chief engineer, chief scientist, and technical director. He developed, tested, and integrated many munitions – including the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile and the Joint Stand-Off Weapon – onto various platforms such as the F-15, F-16, B-2 and B-52. He was instrumental in the recently successful development and live fire testing of a remotely-piloted-aircraft launched weapon for U.S. Special Operations Command. He led a multi-service, multi-agency group and developed electronic attack and electronic protection techniques with roadmaps to address the pacing electromagnetic threat.
From 1986 to 1995, he served as a professor in electrical engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he taught courses in electronic circuits, digital and analog communications, airborne radar, electromagnetics, antennas, fiber optic communications, electromagnetic pulse protection, radar cross section measurements, antenna pattern measurements, and signal processing.
From 1981 to 1985, he was a microwave and satellite systems engineer for PACAF. He installed satellite communications systems in Japan, microwave communications systems in the Philippines, and he resolved several electromagnetic compatibility and interference problems in South Korea.
Ali enlisted in the Air Force as a medic/pharmacy technician in 1974 and honorably retired from active duty at the rank of major in 1998.
EDUCATION
1993 Doctor of Philosophy, electrical engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
1986 Master of Science, electrical engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
1981 Bachelor of Science electrical engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
1973 High School Graduate, Christ Church High School, Georgetown, Guyana
AWARDS AND HONORS
2017 Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Illinois
2013 Director’s Cup Senior Staff of the Year Award
2009 AFMC Micromunition Team Award
2009 Chief Engineer of the Year for all ten Directorates of Air Force Research Laboratory
2009 Chief Engineer of the Year for Eglin AFB
2009 AFRL Commanders Cup Cash Award for Micromunition Team leadership for MAV development
2008 AFRL Commanders Cup Cash Award for Micromunition Team leadership for MAV development
2005 Civilian Meritorious Service Award
2004 Chief Engineer of the Year – Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB
2004 Air Force Commendation Medals
2003 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2001Cash Awards for Anti-Tamper Conops; Innovative Precision Emplacement for the DARPA Wolfpack Program
2000 Cash Awards Electromagnetic Code Simulation Roadmap
1999 Cash Award for U.S. Patent Number 5,448,252 “Wide Bandwidth Microstrip Patch Antenna
(Current as of April 2018)