Dr. Douglas C. Blake, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In this capacity, he leads the Air Force’s science and technology program in propulsion, power and air vehicles for advanced next-generation space, missile and aircraft applications. The Aerospace Systems Directorate consists of a workforce of more than 1,800 military members, civilians, and contractors executing an annual budget in excess of $700 million and $4 billion in research facilities spread over 65 square miles at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Edwards AFB, Calif., and Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Tennessee.
Dr. Blake served 20 years in the active-duty Air Force as both enlisted and an officer in a variety of positions including; Korean Cryptologic Linguist, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile maintenance engineer, AFRL researcher, and Associate Professor of Aeronautics at the US Air Force Academy. Upon retiring in 2002, he entered the private sector where he worked as the Director of Research and Development Business for a small business involved in modeling and simulation.
In 2004, Dr. Blake entered the Air Force civil service as Chief of the Computational Sciences Branch of AFRL. He held subsequent assignments in the AFRL as Chief of the Aeronautical Sciences Division and Deputy Director of the Air Vehicles Directorate. He also served as the Director of the 76th Software Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and as Executive Director of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Tennessee. Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Blake served in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Executive Service as the Program Director of the FAA Logistics Center, where he led a workforce of more than 600 employees engaged in supply-chain management; maintenance, repair, and overhaul; and logistics support services for the U.S. National Airspace System.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering, University of Missouri, Rolla
1993 Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
1997 Doctorate in aeronautical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2002 Master of Engineering in engineering management, University of Colorado, Boulder
2005 U.S. Air Force Air War College, (via correspondence)
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1984 - 1986, Korean Cryptologic Linguist, Osan Air Base, Korea
2. 1986 - 1989, student, University of Missouri, Rolla
3. 1989 - 1992, ICBM Missile Maintenance Engineer, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
4. 1992 - 1997, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. 1997 - 1998, Computational Electromagnetics Research Engineer, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. 1998 - 1999, Deputy Chief, Aeronautical Sciences Division, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. 1999 - 2002, Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
8. 2002 - 2004, Director of R&D Business, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, Ala.
9. 2004 - 2005, Chief, Computational Sciences Branch, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. 2005 - 2008, Chief, Aeronautical Sciences Division, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. 2008 - 2011, Deputy Director, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. 2011 - 2012, Director, 76th Software Maintenance Group, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Tinker AFB, Okla.
13. 2012 - 2014, Executive Director, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
14. 2014 - 2016, Program Director, Federal Aviation Administration Logistics Center, Oklahoma City
15. 2016 - present, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2002 U.S. Air Force Science and Engineering Award
2011 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2012 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2014 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering, Level III
Program Systems Engineering, Level III
Test and Evaluation, Level I
(Current as of November 2016)