Dr. Donna Cowell Senft, a senior level executive, is Senior Science and Technical Advisor, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. She serves as the AFGSC commander’s Chief Scientist on science, technology, technology transition and innovation on topics related to AFGSC core area programs. She also identifies leading edge technologies, conducts efforts leading to technological enhancement of AFGSC capabilities and advises on the scientific and technical quality of AFGSC programs.
Dr. Senft’s career has spanned both fundamental and applied research, technology transition to Air Force and DoD missions and scientific and technical management. Her previous position was Chief Scientist, Air Mobility Command. She has performed research in a number of technical fields and is the author of four patents and numerous technical articles in the areas of friction and wear, nanotechnology, spacecraft power and surface science. She served a postdoctoral appointment at Sandia National Laboratories in the Materials Performance and Reliability branch. At the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, she held a variety of positions from bench-level researcher to portfolio manager. Dr. Senft also served as the AFRL lead for Space Communications, Positioning, Navigation and Timing, creating and managing a diverse portfolio that included technologies for next-generation space communications, GPS spacecraft and GPS-denied navigation.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science, Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
1985 Master of Science, Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1994 Doctor of Philosophy, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2008 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Civilian Leadership Development Course, Office of Personnel Management, Charlottesville, Va.
2015 National and International Strategic Leadership Seminar, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1995–1998, Postdoctoral Appointment, Materials Performance and Reliability: Adhesion/Corrosion/Tribology Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.
2. 1998–2000, Director of Research-and-Development and Quality, Permacharge Corporation, Albuquerque, N.M.
3. 2000–2001, Research Physicist, Advanced Space Power Program, Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
4. 2001–2005, Program Manager, Advanced Space Power Program, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. 2005–2010, Branch Chief, Spacecraft Component Technology Branch, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. 2010–2011, Mission Area Lead, Responsive Space, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. 2011–2015, Mission Area Lead, Space Communications, Positioning, Navigation and Timing, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. 2015–2019, Chief Scientist, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. 2019–present, Senior Science and Technical Advisor, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
Air and Space Meritorious Civilian Service Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – Fellow
Air Force Association - Member
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society - Member
(Current as of June 2024)