Dr. Ken Barker, a senior-level executive, is Technical Advisor, Systems Engineering, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Dr. Barker serves as a national/international authority in systems engineering, weapons system integration, manufacturing, and airworthiness, providing technical oversight in these areas for the Air Force. He provides advice and guidance to the highest Air Force and government officials as well as to multiple nationally important aerospace weapon system programs.
Dr. Barker started his career as a second lieutenant in 1979 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has more than 32 years of federal service, including 26 years as an active duty officer (retired as colonel in 2005) and six years as an Air Force civilian. Dr. Barker has served as an engineer and program manager in S&T, test, and acquisition, as well as an assistant professor of astronautics. Specific contributions include work as a munitions test engineer, a laser systems control engineer on the Airborne Laser Laboratory, a satellite payload and high-altitude balloon chief engineer and program manager in the Air Force Research Laboratory, and an acquisition program manager in C-17 SPO, Training Systems Product Group, and Classified Program Office in the Aeronautical Systems Center. Prior to his current position, Dr. Barker served as the Chief Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory.
EDUCATION
1979 - Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1982 - Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
1984 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1991 - Doctor of Philosophy in aerospace engineering (Controls & Flight Dynamics), University of Washington, Seattle
1994 - Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 - Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 - Advanced Program Managers Course, Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
2011 - Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 1979 - August 1981, munitions test engineer, 3246th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2. August 1981 - December 1982, graduate student (master's degree), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
3. January 1983 - December 1986, laser and inertial systems controls engineer, Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. January 1987 - July 1988, instructor, Department of Astronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. August 1988 - June 1991, graduate student (Ph.D.), University of Washington, Seattle
6. July 1991 - July 1993, satellite payload chief engineer and high-altitude balloon experiment program manager, Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. August 1993 - June 1994, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1994 - December 1995, Chief, Astrodynamics Division, Department of Astronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
9. January 1996 - June 1997, Chief, Honor and Honor Education Division, Center for Character Development, and adjunct professor, Department of Astronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
10. July 1997 - June 1998, student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 1998 - March 1999, Lead, C-17 Air Vehicle Team, C-17 System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. March 1999 - June 2000, Lead, C-17 Future Programs Team, C-17 System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. June 2000 - August 2001, Chief, Air Mobility & Surveillance Programs Division, Training Systems Product Group, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. August 2001 - August 2005, Program Director, Classified Program, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. September 2005 - February 2006, principle plans and programs engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
16. February 2006 - December 2009, Deputy for Systems Engineering and Program Management, Plans and Programs Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
17. December 2009 - October 2011, Chief Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. November 2011 - present, Technical Advisor, Systems Engineering, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MILITARY AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
CIVILIAN AWARDS AND HONORS
2011 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2009 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College
1988 Outstanding Military Educator, Department of Astronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy
1988 Company Grade Officer of the Year, Engineering Division, U. S. Air Force Academy
1986 Program Manager's Award for Exceptional Performance, Best Technical Contribution, SDI/ATP-FC, Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
1984 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officers School
1979 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
International Federation of Automatic Control
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering, Level III
Program Management, Level III
Test & Evaluation, Level I
(Current as of October 2012)