Dr. Kevin T. Geiss, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acting Executive Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Dr. Geiss is the Principal Assistant to the Commander and the Senior Civilian Executive responsible for managing the Department of the Air Force’s $3 billion science and technology program along with an additional $3 billion of externally funded research and development. He serves a government workforce of approximately 6,000 people in the laboratory’s nine component technology directorates, 711th Human Performance Wing and AFWERX.
Dr. Geiss was formerly the Director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, leading the management of the United States Department of the Air Force’s global basic research investment. In that position, He ensured success of the portfolio and transfer of resulting discoveries to AFRL Directorates, to defense industries and to other federal agencies.
Dr. Geiss enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1986 and served in field artillery, communications and military police units during his service. He spent nine years as a defense contractor supporting Air Force research programs at Wright-Patterson AFB. He began his civilian career with AFRL in 2002. He was then detailed to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he performed policy and budget review of national security science and technology programs and led interagency committees on national security.
In 2008, Dr. Geiss joined the Department of the Army as the Program Director for Energy Security to lead the Army’s Energy Security program across the facilities and installations domain, in weapon systems and for contingency operations.
Dr. Geiss was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010 and served as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy. Dr. Geiss provided oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs and budgets for the effective and efficient use of energy to support the global Air Force mission. In 2014, he returned to AFRL as the Director of the Airman Systems Directorate in the 711th Human Performance Wing.
In 2020, Dr. Geiss joined the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon to serve as the Director for Science and Technology. In 2023, he was appointed as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Science and Technology Futures, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. There he was responsible for the integration and oversight of the Department of Defense science and technology investments supporting continued technological superiority of United States military.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Cedarville University, Ohio
1993 Master of Science in Chemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
2001 Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
2002 Software Professional Development Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2005 Executive Education Certificate, The Wharton School, Philadelphia, Penn.
2007 National Senior Intelligence Course, Washington, D.C.
2009 Army Force Management Course for General Officers and Senior Executives, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2012 DoD Vanguard Senior Executive Leadership Program, Washington, D.C.
2019 Senior Managers in Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2024 Cybersecurity, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1986–February 1994, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
2. August 1993–February 2002, Research Scientist, Geo-Centers, Inc., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
3. February 2002–December 2005, Senior Research Scientist, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. January 2006–September 2007, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.
5. September 2007–October 2008, Assistant Director for National Defense, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.
6. November 2008–November 2010, Program Director, Energy Security, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.
7. November 2010–May 2014, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment and Logistics, Washington, D.C.
8. May 2014–December 2020, Director, Airman Systems Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. December 2020–December 2023, Director, Science and Technology, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Washington, D.C.
10. December 2023–March 2024, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Science and Technology Futures, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, Washington, D.C.
11. March 2024–June 2025, Director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2025–present, Acting Executive Director, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2005 Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2006 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2009 Army Superior Civilian Service Award (2)
2010 Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2013 Service to America Medal for Management Excellence, Partnership for Public Service
2014 F. Ward Reilly Leadership Award, Civil Air Patrol
2014 Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award
2020 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2024 Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service
2024 Commendation for Outstanding Achievement, British Defence Staff – United States
(Current as of June 2025)