Henry Jared Wurster, a member of the Senior executive Service, is the Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, and is responsible for leading a staff of military and civilians in the development, integration, evaluation, analysis, and formulation of the Air Force’s $1 trillion Future Years Defense Plan.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Wurster was the Division Chief, Office of Aerospace Studies, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He led a high performing team of geographically dispersed civilian analysts that provided analysis and requirements development expertise to shape future Department of the Air Force capabilities.
Mr. Wurster joined the civil service in 2018 after a 12-year contracted program management career supporting Headquarters Air Force including Strategic Assessments Division, Quadrennial Defense Review Office, Office of Warfighting Integration, Chief Information Officer, and Capability, Concept of Operations Champions. Prior to joining the Office of Aerospace Studies, Mr. Wurster supported the Program Integration Division “Engine Room”.
Mr. Wurster also serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he serves as Deputy Branch Chief, Weather Operations Branch, Operations Group, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. He commissioned into the Air Force in 2002 through ROTC from Cornell University. Following graduation, he completed the Basic Meteorology Program at Texas A&M University through Air Force Institute of Technology. He then served as a Lead Meteorologist, and Flight Commander the 28th Operational Weather Squadron, before assignment to the Pentagon Operations Group in 2005. In 2006, he transitioned from active duty to the Air Force Reserve.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Science of Earth Systems, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
2003 Bachelor of Science, Meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station
2008 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Masters of Arts, Management, with Honors, American Military University, Charlestown, W.Va.
2017 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Leader Development Course for Squadron Command, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2024 Continuous Improvement and Innovation for Executives, Durham, N.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. September 2006–February 2009, Capabilities and Operational Concepts Integration Project Manager, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
2. February 2009–October 2009, Operational Capability Requirements Project Manager, Office of Warfighting Integration/Chief Information Officer, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
3. October 2009–August 2014, Senior Defense Analyst, Deputy Program Manager, Air Force Quadrennial Defense Review Office, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. August 2014–October 2018, Program Manager On-Site Lead and Supervisor, Strategic Assessment Services Division, Planning Integration, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. October 2018–February 2020, Acting Associate Division, Chief of Strategic Assessments, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. February 2020–July 2022, Branch Chief, Exercise Branch, Program Integration Division, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. July 2022– July 2023, Division Chief Team Lead, Office of Aerospace Studies, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2023–present, Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2002–June 2003, Student, AFIT, Basic Meteorology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station
2. June 2003–September 2004, Lead Meteorologist, 28th Operational Weather Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
3. September 2004–June 2005, Flight Commander, 28th Operational Weather Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. June 2005–September 2006, Staff Weather Officer, Operations Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. September 2006–September 2009, Staff Weather Officer, Operations Group, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. September 2009–July 2015, the Pentagon Weather Ops Desk Team Chief, Operations Group, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. July 2015–March 2019, Deputy Division Chief and Air Force Duty Officer, Weather Operations Division, Air Force Operations Group, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. March 2019–present, Deputy Branch Chief and Air Force Duty Officer, Weather Operations Branch, Air Force Operations Group, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Civilian Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
(Current as of June 2024)