Dr. Ralph E. Bordner III, a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service, is the Systems Development Director at the Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. AFTAC operates and maintains the U.S. Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with multiple treaties limiting weapons of mass destruction development, testing and proliferation.
Dr. Bordner is the enterprise portfolio manager for all AFTAC technical capabilities to include collection, production, advancement, analysis and prompt reporting of nuclear explosions and other events of interest for weapons of mass destruction proliferation monitoring. He directs strategy, acquisition, testing and deployment of mission capabilities with an annual operating budget of more than $250 million per year. He is responsible for a global network of seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and materials sampling systems deployed to every continent and ocean as well as an extensive space-based sensor network, 13 analytical forensic laboratories, two WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft, and a maritime vessel. Dr. Bordner also oversees the center's support of the United Nation’s Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty as the Director of the U.S. National Data Center and maintains the U.S.’s nuclear analysis and evaluation contract efforts with the International Atomic Energy Agency in their monitoring responsibilities of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Dr. Bordner has more than 27 years of experience as an engineer, program manager, space operator, astrodynamics researcher, educator and human resources professional. Prior to his most recent experience as the Director of Talent Management for Assured Access to Space, Dr. Bordner was a Senior Program Manager and Systems Engineer at L3Harris Technologies working classified space programs. He is a Department of Defense-credentialed Engineer and Program Manager as well as a certified Project Management Professional.
Dr. Bordner received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Central Florida in 1996 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His military career included multiple space-centric positions, to include crew-certified space operator, space mission control engineer, chief of ballistic missile subsystems, and research and development engineer. He is a classically trained engineer, earning his doctorate in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology through research on novel applications of the Komolgorov-Arnold-Moser Theorem to satellite orbits. Dr. Bordner has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since 2015.
While on active duty, Dr. Bordner also served multiple tours executing force management and development for Airman, both military and civilian. From 2004 to 2007, he served at the Air Force Personnel Center on the Acquisition Officer Assignments Team, culminating as Chief of Engineering Assignments. In 2011, he was the Chief of Senior Leader Management for Air Force Materiel Command, and he served the Commander in this capacity until his departure for a Materiel Leader position in 2013. In 2017, Dr. Bordner was assigned as the Deputy Director, Acquisition Career Management in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition where he was responsible for assisting the director in the integrated management of the acquisition workforce across all functional areas.
Upon completing his tour as Vice Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Dr. Bordner retired from active duty, in the rank of colonel, after 25 years in January 2022. He entered Civil Service in December 2022.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando
2001 Master of Science, Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2010 Doctorate of Philosophy, Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2014 Program Manager’s Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2017 Master of Strategic Studies, Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1996–August 1999, Satellite Vehicle Officer, Satellite Systems Engineer, and Chief of Operations Requirements, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
2. August 1999–March 2001, Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. March 2001–June 2002, Lead Space Mission Control Engineer, Technical Assessments Directorate, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. June 2002–June 2003, Executive Officer, Technical Assessments Directorate, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. June 2003–September 2004, Chief, Ballistic Missile Subsystems Branch, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. September 2004–June 2007, Engineering Assignments Officer and Chief, Engineering Assignments, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. June 2007–September 2010, Intermediate Development Education, Doctoral Programs, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. September 2010–June 2011, Deputy Chief, Layered Sensing Exploitation Division, Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. June 2011–August 2013, Chief, Senior Leader Management, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. August 2013–July 2016, Materiel Leader, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Systems Program Manager, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
11. July 2016–June 2017, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
12. June 2017–July 2018, Deputy Director, Acquisition Workforce Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2018–September 2021, Vice Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
14. September 2021–December 2022, Senior Systems Engineer and Program Manager, L3Harris Technologies, Palm Bay, Fla.
15. December 2022–October 2023, Director of Talent Management, Assured Access to Space, Patrick SFB, Fla.
16. October 2023–present, Director, Systems Development, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick SFB, Fla.
MAJOR DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
(Current as of October 2023)