John F. Vona, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of Operational Requirements, DCS, Strategy, Design and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this position, Mr. Vona leads more than 100 military, civilian and contractor personnel in establishing capability development policy, developing, validating, prioritizing and championing operational requirements in guiding future modernization, science and technology and experimentation programs. His responsibilities encompass the entire Air Force modernization portfolio, including air superiority, nuclear, mobility, autonomous platforms, weapons, sensors, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, base defense, personnel recovery and cyber capabilities. Additionally, he focuses improved capability integration with the Intelligence Community, other Federal agencies and allies/partners. He oversees the Air Force's Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System implementation, and advocates for Air Force equities and enhanced Joint Integration through the Joint Staff/J8 Joint Requirements Oversight Council structure.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Vona served as the Deputy Director of the Plans, Program and Requirements Directorate, Headquarters Air Combat Command, supporting a force of over 146,000 personnel and 2,800 aircraft, including 10 unified commands and U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command. He supervised a staff of 25 divisions of more than 700 personnel, leading planning and programming for over $60 billion annually, and directed operational requirements functions for weapon system acquisition, modernization, sustainment and test for over 140 programs. He guided multiple innovation, experimentation, and advanced technology initiatives, teaming with Air Force Research Laboratory, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and other government and industry partners.
Mr. Vona began his Air Force career in 1985 as an Electronics Engineering Technician at the 485th Engineering Installation Group. He then spent 16 years as an Electronics and Computer Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining advanced intelligence processing, exploitation and dissemination capabilities for multiple Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers. He progressed through a number of key capability development leadership positions throughout his career, directing Air Force experimentation, formulating science and technology programs, managing Combat Air Force weapon system modernization, while specializing in Command and Control, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, cyberspace operations and air superiority mission areas.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Syracuse University, N.Y. 1992 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Syracuse University, N.Y.
1995 National Security Studies Program, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
1996 Advanced Management Program, State University of New York, Marcy
2008 Air War College, Maxell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Leadership for a Democratic Society Program, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2021 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2022 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2023 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1985–1986, Electronics Engineering Technician, 485th Engineering and Installation Group, Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y.
2. 1988–1997, Electronics and Computer Engineer, Rome Laboratory, later Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Rome, N.Y.
3. 1998–2004, Chief, Information Handling Branch and Director, Air Force Intelligence Data Handling System Program Office, Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Rome, N.Y.
4. 2004–2011, Chief, Plans and Integration Division, Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center, Langley AFB, Va.
5. 2011–2013, Technical Director, Air Force Command and Control Integration Center, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Va.
6. 2013–2015, Chief, Air Operations Center Division and Technical Director, Requirements Directorate, Air Combat Command, JB Langley–Eustis, Va.
7. 2015–2019, Chief, Information Superiority Division, Directorate of Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Combat Command, JB Langley–Eustis, Va.
8. 2019–2023, Deputy Director, Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Combat Command, JB Langley–Eustis, Va.
9. 2023–present, Director of Operational Requirements, DCS, Strategy, Design and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2010 Association of Old Crows Electronic Warfare Team Award
2015 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2016 Chief Acquisition Officer Council Acquisition Excellence Award
2020 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
PUBLICATIONS
"Global Effects: Pilot Explores Integrated Command and Control" High Frontier, the Journal for Space and Missile Professionals, Volume 5, Number 3, May 2009 (sole author)
(Current as of July 2025)