Dr. James W. Weber, a member of the scientific and professional cadre of senior executives, is the Senior Scientist for Hypersonics, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He serves as the principal scientific authority and independent researcher for hypersonic systems, working to advance the maturity of technologies used by Air Force missiles, aircraft, and space access platforms in sustained operations above Mach 5 to enable the transition to acquisition development programs. In that role, Dr. Weber leads the department’s hypersonics science and technology strategy and advises Air Force senior leadership on hypersonic systems development.
Dr. Weber has over 30 years of experience in the research and development of hypersonic systems. He began his career with the Air Force in 1992 at the Wright Laboratory Propulsion and Power Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he held assignments of increasing responsibility in hypersonic technology development, strategic planning, and program management, including assignments with the Department of Defense/NASA National AeroSpace Plane, AFRL Hypersonic Technology, and DARPA/AFRL Affordable Rapid Response Missile Demonstrator programs. In his most recent AFRL assignment, Dr. Weber was program manager of the High Speed Strike Weapon Technology Maturation program at Eglin AFB, Florida. Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Weber was Special Assistant for Hypersonics in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., where he led the development and implementation of DOD’s Hypersonics Science & Technology Strategy.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1991 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
1994 Doctor of Philosophy, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
2003 Excellence in Government Fellows Program, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. September 1992–May 1994, Aerospace Engineer, Aero Propulsion & Power Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. May 1994–April 1995, Project Engineer, National Aero-Space Plane, Aero Propulsion & Power Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. April 1995–October 1996, Project Manager, Hypersonic Technology, Aero Propulsion & Power Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. October 1996–November 1999, Program Manager, Hydrocarbon Scramjet Engine Technology, Propulsion Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. November 1997–November 1999, Lead Propulsion Engineer, Affordable Rapid Response Missile Demonstrator, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. November 1999–March 2001, Directorate Portfolio Manager, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. March 2001–December 2003, Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Headquarters, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. December 2003–August 2004, Commander’s Representative for Base Realignment and Closure, Headquarters, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. August 2004–March 2006, High Speed Configurations Team Leader, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. March 2006–January 2007, Chief Technology Engineer, Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. January 2007–December 2012, Technical Advisor, Aero-Propulsion Integration Branch, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. December 2012–March 2014, Principal Aerospace Engineer, High Speed Vehicles Branch, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. March 2014–January 2016, Deputy Program Manager, High Speed Strike Weapon, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. January 2016–May 2019, Program Manager, High Speed Strike Weapon, Munitions Directorate, AFRL, Eglin AFB, Fla.
15. May 2019–June 2020, Special Assistant for Hypersonics, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2020–present, Senior Scientist, Hypersonics, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2004 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2011 Air Force Civilian Achievement Award
2016 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2017 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Associate Fellow
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Joint Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force Interagency Propulsion Committee
Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Honor Society
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Science and Technology Management, Level III
Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering, Level III
Program Management, Level I
(Current as of July 2021)