Thomas R. Berard, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Executive Director, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. He serves as principal deputy to the center's commander on all matters under the cognizance of the commander. He has extensive authority for broad management, policy development, decision making and effective program execution of the center's development, test and evaluation mission. His role as an executive manager involves long and short-range planning, policy development, the determination of program and center goals, including those involving scientific and technical matters, and the overall management of the base complex.
Mr. Berard began his civil service career at the Air Force Flight Test Center in 1979. Over the next 25 years he worked on a variety of projects including the first flight of the B-1B, and development and acquisition of all of the technical support equipment for testing the B-2. He served as Chief of the Development Engineering Division responsible for the Improvement and Modernization Program for the AFFTC, and Director of Developmental Test and Evaluation for the 445th Flight Test Squadron where he was responsible for the DT&E of the F-15, T-38 and RU-38. He later became Division Chief of the Range Division, 412th Test Wing, and was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Edwards Flight Test Range, including the acquisition, transmission, processing and display of flight test data for the AFFTC customers.
Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Berard was the Executive Director of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and was responsible for the development, approval, and implementation of all scientific and technical policies and procedures as well as resource management plans and programs for WSMR.
EDUCATION
1978 Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, California State University, Stanislaus
1993 Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, California State University, Northridge
1994 Program Management, Defense System Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2005 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2006 Force Management Course for Senior Leaders, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2006 APEX Senior Executive Orientation Program, Washington, D.C.
2007 Lean Six Sigma Executive Course, Washington, D.C.
2008 Air Force Senior Executive Service Orientation Program, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1979 - December 2004, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2. January 2005 - November 2005, Deputy to the Commander and Technical Director, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
3. November 2005 - October 2007, Director, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
4. October 2007 - October 2008, Executive Director, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
5. October 2008 - present, Executive Director, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2005 Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2007 and 2008 Army Superior Civilian Service Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
International Test and Evaluation Association
Association of the U.S. Army
Society of Flight Test Engineers
(Current as of January 2011)