Mr. Joseph A. Baker, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of Engineering and Technical Management for the F-35 Joint Program Office in Arlington, Virginia. The F-35 JPO is the Defense Department’s agency responsible for the development, production and sustainment of the F-35A/B/C Lightning II, the next-generation strike aircraft for the Air Force, Marines, Navy, seven partner nations, and multiple foreign military customers. Mr. Baker is responsible for sound systems engineering processes, product integrity, engineering leadership, and all technical aspects of the DoD’s largest acquisition program. The F-35 Lightning II is postured to deliver dominant global strike capabilities to U.S. warfighters, partner nations and foreign customers.
Mr. Baker began his federal career in 1996 as an aerospace engineer in the Aeronautical Systems Center’s Engineering Directorate. He has held multiple management and technical positions within the Air Force Research Laboratories, Air Force Materiel Command and various acquisition program offices. Prior to this position, Mr. Baker was the Deputy Technical Airworthiness Authority in the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
1998 Master of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. April 1996–April 1999, Palace Acquire Intern, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. April 1999–December 2006, Aerospace Engineer, C-17 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. January 2007–March 2007, Systems Engineer, Global Hawk System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. March 2007–January 2009, Plans and Programs Engineer, Directorate of Engineering, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. January 2009–June 2012, Chief, Electronic and Optical Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. June 2012–August 2014, Deputy Capability Lead for Agile Combat Support, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. August 2014–September 2017, Lead Development Engineer, KC-46 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. September 2017–August 2019, Chief Engineer, KC-46 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. August 2019–August 2020, Director of Engineering, Tanker Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. August 2020–October 2021, Director of Engineering, Mobility and Training Aircraft Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. October 2021–May 2023, Deputy Technical Airworthiness Authority, Engineering and Technical Management Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. May 2023–present, Director of Engineering, F-35 Joint Program Office, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Air Force Civilian Achievement Award
Air Force Civilian Achievement Award
Exemplary Civilian Service Award
Aeronautical System Center Junior Civilian Engineer of the Year
(Current as of May 2024)