Brig. Gen. Joshua P. Williams is the Program Executive Officer for the Cyber and Networks Directorate, headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. With more than 2,400 personnel under his command, he is responsible for developing, acquiring, deploying and sustaining a $20 billion portfolio of cyberspace, communication and cryptologic network capabilities to connect warfighters with affordable and secure systems. Reporting to the Service Acquisition Executive, his directorate champions key initiatives including Digital Engineering, DevSecOps and the implementation of Joint All-Domain Command and Control. The portfolio includes Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure, the Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division and a Special Programs Division, which deliver critical capabilities across the Air Force, joint and inter-agency communities.
Brig. Gen. Williams earned his commission as a graduate of the University of Utah’s Air Force ROTC program. He has served as a project manager in the Joint Expeditionary Force Exercise, Global Command and Control Air Force, Mobile Consolidated Command Center, Global Sensor Integrated Network and the F-22 (Increment 3.2A/B) program offices. He also served in Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command as the Deputy, Senior Leader Management and completed intermediate development education as an Air Force Fellow, Lean Aerospace Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Brig. Gen. Williams completed his senior development education at the Eisenhower School of Strategy and Resourcing and was the Materiel Leader, Air Force Distributed Common Ground System. Brig. Gen. Williams also served as the Chief, Command and Control Division in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition followed by serving as the Senior Materiel Leader, Strategic Warning and Surveillance Systems Division.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Williams was the PEO for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In this role he was responsible for more than 3,400 personnel nationwide and acquisition execution of a $33 billion portfolio developing, producing, testing, modifying, fielding, supporting Air Force ISR and SOF platforms and related sub-systems.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Finance and Information Systems, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Missile Correlation Center Crew Operations, Schriever AFB, Colo.
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Business Administration, Troy University, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Science, Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2018 Master of Science, National Strategy and Resourcing, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2002–January 2003, Assistant Regional Director of Admissions, West Region, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
2. January 2003–August 2004, Joint Expeditionary Force Exercise Project Officer, Command and Control Enterprise Integration Officer, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
3. August 2004–July 2005, Chief, Global Command and Control Air Force Security Branch, Global Information Grid Systems Group, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
4. July 2005–January 2006, Chief, Global Command and Control Integration and Baseline Management Branch, Global Information Grid Systems Group, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
5. January 2006–December 2006, Deputy Program Manager, Mobile Consolidated Command Center, 850th Electronic Systems Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
6. December 2006–December 2007, Deputy Program Manager, Distributed Command and Control Node, 850th Electronic Systems Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
7. December 2007–January 2010, Chief, COCOM Initiative Branch, 850th Electronic Systems Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
8. January 2010–May 2012, F-22 Modernization Program Manager, F-22 Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. May 2012–June 2013, Deputy Chief, Senior Leader Management, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. June 2013–February 2015, Air Force Fellow, Lean Aerospace Initiative, System Design and Management Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
11. February 2015–June 2017, Materiel Leader, Air Force Distributed Common Ground System, Command, Command, Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division, Robins AFB, Ga.
12. June 2017–July 2018, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2018–July 2019, Chief, Command and Control Division, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2019–August 2022, Senior Materiel Leader, Strategic Warning and Surveillance Systems Division, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. August 2022–September 2025, PEO, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. September 2025–present, Program Executive Officer for Cyber and Networks, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
ACQUISTION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CERTIFICATIONS
Program Management Level III, 2012 Program Management Level II, 2007
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air and Space Longevity Service with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Reserve Officer Training Corps
2007 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2008 850 Electronic System Group Lance P. Sijan Award Nominee
2008 850 Electronic System Group CGO of the Year
2011 Abrahamson Award Finalist (PM of the Year for Aeronautical System Center)
2012 Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command A1 Field Grade Officer of the 4th Quarter
2012 Headquarters AFMC A1 Field Grade Officer of the Year
2015 Federal Acquisition Agile Team of the Year
2016 AQ/AZ Battle Management Directorate Outstanding Acquisition Manager of the Year (O-4/O-5)
(Current as of January 2026)