Kathy L. Watern, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Executive Director, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Ms. Watern advises the AFMC commander in managing all aspects of the command’s mission. The command employs 89,000 people and manages $72 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradle-to-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation and world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management. As the command’s senior civilian, Ms. Watern also advises the AFMC commander on labor union relations and development of the civilian work force. Civilians make up more than 70% of the command -- the highest percentage among all Air Force major commands -- and AFMC employs 40% of the total Air Force civilians.
Ms. Watern began her career in private industry and entered federal civil service in 1984. She has served in a variety of financial management and acquisition assignments at Wright-Patterson AFB in the F-15, F-22 and Air Combat System Program Offices as well as the Acquisition Cost Division. Prior to moving to Headquarters Air Force, she worked as the Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center. She was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010.
Prior to her current assignment, she was Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
1984 Master of Business Administration, University of Dayton, Ohio
2000 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. (Eisenhower)
2008 Defense Leadership and Management Program, Washington, D.C.
2022 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. February 1984–August 1999, various assignments
2. August 1999–June 2000, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. (Eisenhower)
3. June 2000–July 2001, Chief, Estimating and Scheduling Branch, Acquisition Cost Division, ASC, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
4. July 2001–November 2003, Director, Financial Management Division, Air Combat SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. November 2003–August 2009, Director, Financial Management Division, F-22 SPO, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. August 2009–May 2010, Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. May 2010–November 2012, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
8. November 2012–February 2013, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
9. February 2013–June 2016, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
10. June 2016–August 2023, Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. August 2023–March 2026, Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. April 2026—present, Executive Director, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
AWARDS AND HONORS
2003, 2007 Financial Management/Comptroller Organization of the Year
2008 Donna J. Back Leadership Award
2009, 2023 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2014 Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award
2019 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) – Financial Management, Level III
Certified Defense Financial Manager – Acquisition
APDP – Program Management, Level III
(Current as of March 2026)