Col. Bai Lan Zhu is the Senior Materiel Leader for Advanced Battle Management System, Department of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM), Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. She leads a division responsible for delivering digital infrastructure, deployable systems, aerial networks, and software, and applications for command and control for the DAF BATTLE NETWORK.
The DAF BATTLE NETWORK is the integrated system-of-systems connecting sensor, effector, and logistics systems providing better situational awareness, faster operational decisions, and decisive direction to the force. It is the DAF’s contribution to CJADC2.
Col. Zhu received her commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts. Prior to her current assignment, she was Chief of the Intelligence Systems Division within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate. Col. Zhu has served in multiple roles under the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics in the Pentagon and was selected as the inaugural Materiel Leader of the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems and later Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
As a career acquisitions officer, Col. Zhu served in engineering roles for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, Missile Defense Early Warning Radars, Delta IV and Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles, and air-to-air weapon systems evaluation programs. After serving as part of the unit activation cadre to stand up the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment at Yale University, she became an Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow in the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group and in the Department of State.
After graduating from Air War College, she led innovation, digital transformation, and Advanced Battle Management System integration efforts as the Cross Cutter Chief in direct support to the Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, and Networks.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA
2006 Master of Business Administration, New York Institute of Technology, NY
2008 Squadron Officers School in Residence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Graduate Certificate in Project Engineering, University of Central Florida, FL
2012 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2015 Air Force Strategic Policy Fellowship, Air Force Research Institute, Air University, Washington, D.C.
2019 Program Managers Course, Defense Acquisition University, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2022 Master of Strategic Studies (Highest Academic Distinction), Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 2002 – July 2004, Avionics and Training Systems Engineer, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Program Office, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA
2. July 2004 – July 2005, Systems Engineer, Upgraded Early Warning Radar Program Office, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA
3. July 2005 – June 2008, Vehicle Sub-system Engineer and Officer in Charge, Delta IV Electrical Engineering, 5th Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
4. June 2008 – September 2009, Section Chief, Atlas V Electrical Engineering, 5th Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
5. September 2009 – July 2010, Acquisitions Flight Commander, 53d Test Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
6. July 2010 – December 2011, Special Devices Flight Commander, 53d Test Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
7. January 2012 – June 2012, Director of Engineering, 53d Test Support Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL
8. June 2012 – July 2013, Recruiting Flight Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 009, Yale University, New Haven, CT
9. July 2013 – July 2014, Operations Officer, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 009, Yale University, New Haven, CT
10. July 2014 – July 2015, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, Air Force Research Institute, Air University, Washington, D.C.
11. July 2015 – May 2016, Chief, Ground Tactical Command and Control Branch, Information Dominance Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. May 2016 – June 2017, Chief, Airborne Command and Control Branch, Information Dominance Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2017 – July 2018, Chief, Executive Action Group, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2018 – June 2020, Materiel Leader, Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
15. June 2020 – July 2021, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
16. July 2021 – May 2022, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
17. June 2022 – July 2023, Cross-Cutter Chief, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, and Networks Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, MA
18. July 2023 – April 2024, Chief, Intelligence Systems Division, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
19. April 2024 – Present, Senior Materiel Leader, Advanced Battle Management System, Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management Program Executive Office, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Hanscom AFB, MA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Stellar Award (2009)