DONALD W. THOMPSON

Donald W. Thompson, Jr., is the Director, Acquisition Excellence & Program Execution, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In this role, he is responsible for Program Management and Test and Evaluation workforce managements, as well as ensuring the effective function of the Acquisition Centers of Excellence across all center locations.

Previously, Mr. Thompson served as Director of the F-35 Directorate (Joint Strike Fighter), AFLCMC. In that role, he was responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the F-35 Joint Program Office’s Air Force workforce to enable the development, delivery, and sustainment of all airborne, surface, and ground-based assets, and advanced capabilities for the U.S and international partners.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Thompson was the Deputy, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. He was responsible for the development, production, fielding, sustainment, and modernization of the Air Force fighter portfolio, which includes the A-10, A-29, F-15, F-16, F-22, and special programs; as well as the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance program and other advanced aircraft capability development activities, to include the Skyborg Vanguard program.

Mr. Thompson began his Air Force career in 1988 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, as a Manufacturing Systems Engineer at the Aeronautical Systems Center. He has experience in all aspects of system acquisition as an engineer, logistician, and program manager on several programs to include Propulsion, National Aerospace Plane, Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (X-45), Global Hawk, F-15, C-130, C-27J, and the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System.

EDUCATION:

1988 Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville TN
1993 Master of Science in Management Science, University of Dayton, Dayton OH
2008 Air War College, by correspondence
2009 Program Manager’s Course, Defense System Management College, Ft Belvoir VA
2010 Executive Program Management Course, Ft Belvoir VA

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.    Sep 88 – Sep 91, Manufacturing Systems Engineer, Propulsion Systems Program Office, WPAFB, OH
2.    Sep 91 – Mar 94, Manufacturing Systems Engineer, National Aerospace Plane Program, WPAFB, OH
3.    Mar 94 – Nov 95, Manufacturing Systems Engineer, F-15 Systems Program Office, WPAFB, OH
4.    Nov 95 – Dec 98, Systems Engineer, Special Projects, F-15 Systems Program Office, WPAFB, OH
5.    Dec 98 – Mar 01, Program Manager, Special Projects, F-15 Systems Program Office, WPAFB, OH
6.    Mar 01 – Aug 02, Executive Support to Center Director, Aeronautical Systems Center, WPAFB, OH
7.    Aug 02 – Dec 04, Program Mgr, Sensors & Payloads, X-45 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, WPAFB, OH
8.    Dec 04 – Mar 06, Deputy PM, Common System Tech, Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, WPAFB, OH
9.    Mar 06 – Jul 06, Deputy PM, Engineering Manufacturing and Development, Global Hawk, WPAFB, OH
10.  Jul 06 – Oct 08, Deputy PM, C-130J Program Office, 657th Aeronautical Systems Sqdn, WPAFB, OH
11.  Oct 08 – Jun 10, Deputy Director, 866th Aeronautical Sys Group (C-130AMP/J & C-27J), WPAFB, OH
12.  Jun 10 – Apr 11, Chief, Tactical Airlift Division (C-130AMP/J and C-27J), WPAFB, OH
13.  Apr 11 – May 12, Deputy Chief, Aircraft Survivability Division, WPAFB, OH
14.  May 12 – May 14, Deputy Dir., Air Force Security Assistance & Cooperation Directorate, WPAFB, OH
15.  May 14 – Jan 17, Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer for Tankers, WPAFB, OH
16.  Jan 17 – Jun 20, Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer, Fighters and Bombers, WPAFB, OH
17.  Jun 20 – Nov21, Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer, Fighters/Advanced Aircraft, WPAFB, OH
18.  Nov 21 – June 23, Director, F-35 Directorate, WPAFB, OH
19.  June 23 - Present, Director, Acquisition Excellence & Program Execution Directorate, WPAFB, OH

AWARDS
1997 and 1999 PEO Team of the Year for Fighters and Bombers
2000 and 2002 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2007 Armament Cooperation Team Award
2007, 2017, and 2021 Meritorious Civilian Service Award

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES
Acquisition Program Management, Level III
Systems Planning Research, Development & Engineering, Level III Production, Manufacturing & Quality Assurance, Level I


(current as of June 2023)