MAJOR GENERAL DAVID J. EICHHORN
Maj. Gen. David J. Eichhorn is the Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. General Eichhorn reports directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff regarding the test and evaluation of more than 76 major programs valued at more than $650 billion being assessed at 12 different locations. He directs the activities of more than 625 civilian and military people, as well as 225 contractors. As a member of the test and evaluation community, General Eichhorn coordinates directly with the offices of the Secretary of Defense and Headquarters U.S. Air Force while executing realistic, objective and impartial operational testing and evaluation of Air Force, coalition and joint warfighting capabilities.
General Eichhorn entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1976. In earlier assignments he served as an experimental test pilot, and his commands include two flight test squadrons, a test group, a test wing, the Arnold Engineering Development Center and the Air Force Flight Test Center. A certified acquisition professional, he served at the Electronic Systems Center as the Vice Commander, where he was previously assigned as Director of Advanced Command, Control and Communications Systems as well as Director of Advanced Aircraft Systems. He has also served as Director of the Aeronautical Enterprise Program Office and Deputy Program Executive Officer for Aircraft at the Aeronautical Systems Center. At Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command he was Deputy Director of Plans and Programs, and Director of Air, Space and Information Operations.
General Eichhorn has flown the B-52D/H, B-1B, F-111 and T-38, serving as an instructor pilot and aircraft commander. He has accumulated more than 6,100 hours in more than 47 aircraft types.
EDUCATION
1976 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, University of Illinois
1981 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1985 Distinguished graduate, Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
1988 Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, California State University, Fresno
1989 Defense Systems Management College, Program Management Course, Fort Belvoir, Va.
1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1994 Air War College, by correspondence
1999 Distinguished graduate, Master of Science degree in national resource strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1999 Defense Acquisition University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2000 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2002 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1977 - March 1978, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. March 1978 - September 1978, student, B-52D Combat Crew Training School, Carswell AFB, Texas
3. September 1978 - June 1984, co-pilot, aircraft commander and instructor aircraft commander, 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. June 1984 - June 1985, student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
5. June 1985 - June 1986, instructor test pilot, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
6. June 1986 - July 1989, B-1B experimental test pilot, 6512th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7. July 1989 - June 1990, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 1990 - July 1992, Director, Advanced Command, Control and Communications Systems, Special Projects, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
9. July 1992 - July 1993, Director, Advanced Aircraft Systems, Special Projects, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
10. July 1993 - March 1994, Commander, 4952nd Flight Test Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. March 1994 - July 1996, Commander, 452nd Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. July 1996 - June 1998, Commander, 46th Test Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
13. June 1998 - June 1999, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. August 1999 - July 2001, Commander, 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
15. July 2001 - February 2004, Commander, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
16. February 2004 - September 2004, Director, Aeronautical Enterprise Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
17. September 2004 - January 2005, Deputy Director, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. January 2005 - January 2006, Vice Commander, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
19. January 2006 - November 2006, Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer for Aircraft and Vice Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
20. November 2006 - October 2007, Director, Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
21. October 2007 - October 2010, Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
22. October 2010 - present, Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 6,100
Aircraft flown: More than 47 different types, including the F-15C/E, T-38, B-1B, B-52D/H, C-135, C-18, F-111 and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished graduate, undergraduate pilot training
Lt. Gen. John W. O'Neill Award Winner, Electronic Systems Center
2004 Outstanding Alumnus Award, Cal State University College of Engineering and Computer Science
Associate Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots
2010 Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Illinois College of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1976
First Lieutenant Dec. 2, 1978
Captain Dec. 2, 1980
Major March 1, 1987
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1992
Colonel Dec. 1, 1997
Brigadier General Feb. 1, 2004
Major General April 29, 2008
(Current as of June 2011)
General Eichhorn entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1976. In earlier assignments he served as an experimental test pilot, and his commands include two flight test squadrons, a test group, a test wing, the Arnold Engineering Development Center and the Air Force Flight Test Center. A certified acquisition professional, he served at the Electronic Systems Center as the Vice Commander, where he was previously assigned as Director of Advanced Command, Control and Communications Systems as well as Director of Advanced Aircraft Systems. He has also served as Director of the Aeronautical Enterprise Program Office and Deputy Program Executive Officer for Aircraft at the Aeronautical Systems Center. At Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command he was Deputy Director of Plans and Programs, and Director of Air, Space and Information Operations.
General Eichhorn has flown the B-52D/H, B-1B, F-111 and T-38, serving as an instructor pilot and aircraft commander. He has accumulated more than 6,100 hours in more than 47 aircraft types.
EDUCATION
1976 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, University of Illinois
1981 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1985 Distinguished graduate, Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
1988 Master of Science degree in electrical engineering, California State University, Fresno
1989 Defense Systems Management College, Program Management Course, Fort Belvoir, Va.
1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1994 Air War College, by correspondence
1999 Distinguished graduate, Master of Science degree in national resource strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1999 Defense Acquisition University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2000 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2002 National Security Management Course, Syracuse University, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1977 - March 1978, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. March 1978 - September 1978, student, B-52D Combat Crew Training School, Carswell AFB, Texas
3. September 1978 - June 1984, co-pilot, aircraft commander and instructor aircraft commander, 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. June 1984 - June 1985, student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
5. June 1985 - June 1986, instructor test pilot, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
6. June 1986 - July 1989, B-1B experimental test pilot, 6512th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7. July 1989 - June 1990, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 1990 - July 1992, Director, Advanced Command, Control and Communications Systems, Special Projects, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
9. July 1992 - July 1993, Director, Advanced Aircraft Systems, Special Projects, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
10. July 1993 - March 1994, Commander, 4952nd Flight Test Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. March 1994 - July 1996, Commander, 452nd Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. July 1996 - June 1998, Commander, 46th Test Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
13. June 1998 - June 1999, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. August 1999 - July 2001, Commander, 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
15. July 2001 - February 2004, Commander, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
16. February 2004 - September 2004, Director, Aeronautical Enterprise Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
17. September 2004 - January 2005, Deputy Director, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
18. January 2005 - January 2006, Vice Commander, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
19. January 2006 - November 2006, Deputy Air Force Program Executive Officer for Aircraft and Vice Commander, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
20. November 2006 - October 2007, Director, Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
21. October 2007 - October 2010, Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
22. October 2010 - present, Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 6,100
Aircraft flown: More than 47 different types, including the F-15C/E, T-38, B-1B, B-52D/H, C-135, C-18, F-111 and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished graduate, undergraduate pilot training
Lt. Gen. John W. O'Neill Award Winner, Electronic Systems Center
2004 Outstanding Alumnus Award, Cal State University College of Engineering and Computer Science
Associate Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots
2010 Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Illinois College of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1976
First Lieutenant Dec. 2, 1978
Captain Dec. 2, 1980
Major March 1, 1987
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1992
Colonel Dec. 1, 1997
Brigadier General Feb. 1, 2004
Major General April 29, 2008
(Current as of June 2011)