Dr. Thomas “Tom” P. Fetterhoff, a senior-level executive, is the Technical Advisor for aerodynamic, propulsion and ground test and evaluation, Air Force Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. He is the senior technical advisor to the AFTC Commander and serves as the senior Air Force technical advisor and national/international authority regarding the aerodynamic, propulsion and ground test and evaluation of air and space systems. He is also the senior technical advisor for the supporting infrastucture and modeling capability across AFTC’s test ranges and facilities valued at more than $31 billion, including 116 aircraft and 164 ground test facilities. AFTC’s workforce of 18,000 military, civilians and contractors, and its ranges and facilities, are located across the U.S. including Edwards AFB; Eglin AFB, Florida, Holloman AFB, New Mexico and Arnold AFB, Tennessee.
Dr. Fetterhoff has more than 30 years of technical aerospace acquisition experience with the Air Force, Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. He began his engineering career at the Naval Aviation Depot in Alameda, California.
EDUCATION
1986 Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
1998 Masters of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2017 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College Senior Developmental Education , Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
October 1986 - October 1990, Project Engineer, Naval Aviation Depot, Alameda, Alameda, Calif.
July 1990 - July 1993, Turbine Engine Test Engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Trenton, N.J.
July 1993 - April 1994, Senior Project Engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), Aircraft Division, Trenton, N.J.
May 1994 - July 1997, Turbine Engine Test Project Manager, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
March 2002 - August 2003, Staff Specialist, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Office of the Director Operational Test and Evaluation, Deputy Director, Systems and Test Resources, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
July 2004 - February 2006, Chief, Strategic Planning Division, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
February 2006 - September 2006, Deputy Director, Space and Missile Test Squadron, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
September 2006 - July 2010, Chief/Technical Director, Technology Development Branch, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
July 2010 - April 2016, Technical Director, Test Operations Division,; Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
April 2016 -July 2017, Technical Director, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, Tenn.
July 2017 - March 2018, Lead for Hypersonics, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Technology, and Engineering, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
April 2018 - present, Technical Advisor for Aerodynamic, Propulsion and Ground Test and Evaluation, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2017, Air Force Test Center, Number one for Senior Developmental Education
Best Paper Award, 17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference
2012, Special Act Award
2009, Department of the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2003, Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Associate Fellow, American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA)
Senior Member, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA)
International Society of Air Breathing Engines (ISOABE)
American Helicopter Society (AHS)
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
1987, Engineer in Training, State of California
1995, DAWIA/APDP Level III, Test and Evaluation
2017, Joint Professional Military Education Phase II