Brig. Gen. Douglas P. “Beaker” Wickert 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 oversees an approximately $8 billion annual budget to discover, develop and deliver science, technology and innovative 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 more than 11,000 total workforce. He accelerates the delivery of multi-disciplinary and systems-of-systems solutions through partnerships with industry, academia and international allies. Through the laboratory’s six technology directorates and the 711th Human Performance Wing, his team produces a deep technical and medical bench, pushes the boundaries of modern technology and advances science to ensure the Department of the Air Force is well-equipped to win tomorrow and decades into the future.
Brig. Gen. Wickert commissioned in 1995 as a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and holds advanced engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing level and previously served as the permanent Professor and Head, Department of Aeronautics, and the Chair of the Engineering Division at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Brig. Gen. Wickert is a command pilot with combat time supporting multiple operations.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Wickert served as the Director, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, where he was responsible for shaping the workforce and for stewarding the infrastructure to develop, test, field and sustain integrated war-winning capabilities.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Astronautical Engineering and Mathematics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1997 Master of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Distinguished Graduate, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2009 Doctor of Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2016 Master of National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Senior Acquisition Course, Defense Acquisition University, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995–June 1997, Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
2. June 1997–November 1998, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. December 1998–August 1999, Student, F-16, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. September 1999–November 2001, F-16 Pilot, Hill AFB, Utah
5. November 2001–May 2003, F-16 Instructor Pilot, Osan Air Base, South Korea
6. June 2003–June 2004, Student, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
7. June 2004–July 2006, Instructor/Evaluator Test Pilot, Eglin AFB, Fla.
8. August 2006–September 2009, Doctoral Candidate, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. September 2009–December 2009, Service Chief Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va.
10. January 2010–July 2012, F-35 Special Programs Test and Integration Lead, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2012–August 2015, Squadron Commander (data masked)
12. August 2015–June 2016, Student, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2016–July 2018, Operations Group Commander (data masked)
14. August 2018–June 2019, Division Chief, Policy, Programs and Resources, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2019–August 2023, Permanent Professor and Head, Department of Aeronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
16. August 2023–July 2025, Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
17. August 2025–June 2026, Director, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. June 2026–present, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,000
Aircraft flown: F-16, F-35, F-117 and more than 40 other aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
(Current as of June 2026)