The Honorable Andrew P. Hunter is the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Arlington, Virginia. He was sworn in on Feb. 7, 2022. As the U.S. Air Force’s Service Acquisition Executive, Mr. Hunter is responsible for and oversees Air Force research, development and acquisition activities totaling an annual budget in excess of $60 billion for more than 550 acquisition programs. In this position, Mr. Hunter serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff for research and development, test, production and modernization efforts within the Air Force.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Hunter was a Senior Fellow in the International Security Program and Director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He focused on issues affecting the industrial base, including emerging technologies, the defense acquisition system, defense trade and industrial policy.
Mr. Hunter previously served as a member of the Senior Executive Service in the Department of Defense as Director of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell. His duties included fielding solutions to urgent operational needs and leading the work of the Warfighter-Senior Integration Group to ensure timely action on critical issues of warfighter support. Mr. Hunter served as the Chief of Staff to the Honorable Ashton B. Carter and the Honorable Frank Kendall, while each was serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Additional duties while at the Defense Department included support to the Deputy’s Management Action Group and examining ways to reshape acquisition statutes.
Mr. Hunter served as a Professional Staff Member of the House Armed Services Committee, leading the committee’s policy staff and managing a portfolio focused on acquisition policy, the defense industrial base, technology transfers and export controls. He also served in a variety of staff positions in the House of Representatives, including Appropriations Associate for Congressman Norman D. Dicks; Military Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director for Congressman John M. Spratt Jr.; and staff member for the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military and Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China.
EDUCATION
1994, Bachelor of Arts, Social Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2001, Master of Arts, Applied Economics, The John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1994–1999, Military Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director, Representative John M Spratt, Washington, D.C.
2. 1999–2005, National Security Appropriations Associate, Representative Norm D. Dicks, Washington, D.C.
3. 2005–2011, Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee, Washington, D.C.
4. 2011-2012, Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
5. 2012–2014, Director, Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C.
6. 2014–2021, Director, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and Senior Fellow, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
7. 2021–present, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
(Current as of November 2023)