Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei is the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Technology Executive Officer supporting both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. He leads an over $5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise in accelerating the discovery and development of solutions for Airmen and Guardians. He is responsible for formulating a comprehensive technology portfolio that anticipates future warfighter needs while promoting risk-taking and problem-solving across a 6,000-member government workforce. He accelerates the delivery of multi-disciplinary solutions through partnerships with industry, academia and international allies, and executes an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development. Through the laboratory’s technology and functional directorates, AFWERX, and the 711th Human Performance Wing, his team produces a deep technical and medical bench, pushes the boundaries of modern technology and improves the science for tomorrow.
Brig. Gen. Bartolomei was commissioned in 1997 from Marquette University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. During his career, he has held a variety of senior acquisition positions. He served as Director of the Sentinel Systems Directorate, where he was responsible for the development, deployment and sustainment of the next-generation Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. Additionally, he served in the Global Reach Programs Directorate as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), where he supported the Air Force's tankers, airlift, special operations and trainer fleets. Furthermore, he served as an engineer in the F-22 System Program Office and as an assistant professor of engineering mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was also a Service Chiefs Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a Military Legislative Fellow for Senator Orrin G. Hatch, and a Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow, while assigned to the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Bartolomei served as the Program Executive Officer for Weapons and Director of the Armament Directorate, where he was responsible for the planning and execution of all life cycle activities for air-delivered munitions.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
2001 Master of Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Systems Engineering, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2003 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Doctor of Philosophy, Engineering Systems (Technology, Management and Policy), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master’s Certificate in Legislative Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Master of Science, Distinguished Graduate, Marine War College, Quantico, Va. (Paul Van Riper Writing Award)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1997–May 2000, Product Team Lead/Engineer, F-22 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. May 2000–June 2001, Executive Officer, Engineering Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. June 2001–August 2004, Director of Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Engineering Mechanics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
4. August 2004–June 2007, Doctorate Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
5. July 2007–July 2010, Chief, Counter-Terrorism Support Team, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, Va.
6. July 2010–December 2011, Legislative Fellow, Office of Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Washington, D.C.
7. January 2012–August 2013, Deputy Division Chief, Program, Budget, and Congressional Division, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. August 2013–June 2014, Marine War College, Quantico, Va.
9. July 2014–July 2016, Materiel Leader and Integration Program Manager, Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah
10. July 2016–April 2018, Air Force Chief of Staff Fellow, Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins University, Laurel, Md.
11. April 2018–May 2020, System Program Manager and Senior Materiel Leader (Upper), Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah
12. May 2020–August 2022, Director, Sentinel Systems Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill AFB, Utah
13. August 2022–July 2024, Program Executive Officer for Weapons and Director of the Armament Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. July 2024–present, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of July 2024)