Space and Missile Systems Center... A Command Change...

[American Patriot]

June 03, 2011

Space and Missile Systems Center... A Command Change...


Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski
[SatNews] A change of command ceremony for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has just occurred.

Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski will be the first female commander of the 5,000 people assigned to SMC and responsible for executing the center’s $10 billion annual budget to acquire and sustain most of our nation’s military space capabilities. She will assume command from Lt. Gen. John T. “Tom” Sheridan who has served as the commander since May 2008. Pawlikowski is returning to SMC after having previously served as the center’s vice commander as well as the commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems directorate. “I am deeply honored to return to Los Angeles and lead the world’s best space acquisition team,” she said. “We have exciting and challenging days ahead and I look forward to the challenge of delivering space capabilities for our nation.” Sheridan, who will be retiring after 36 years in the Air Force, reflects on his time at the center: “One of the reasons we are the most capable space force in the world is the dedication and hard work of the men and women of SMC. Their work directly supports our deployed warfighters and has had a tremendous impact on the world’s quality of life with capabilities like the Global Positioning System – vitally important for today and the future. I am very proud to have led this talented team.” Gen. William Shelton, Commander of Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., will preside over the change of command.

From February 2010 to May 2011, Pawlikowski served as the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. While assigned there, she was responsible for managing the Air Force’s $2.2 billion science and technology efforts as well as $2.2 billion in additional customer-funded research and development programs. She led a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory’s component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the 711th Human Performance Wing. Pawlikowski entered the Air Force in 1978 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, where she received a doctorate in chemical engineering in December 1981. The Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force’s center of acquisition excellence for developing and acquiring military space systems and capabilities including: the global positioning system, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control network, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness.

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Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL ELLEN M. PAWLIKOWSKI

MAJOR GENERAL ELLEN M. PAWLIKOWSKI Download Hi-Res Bio Tools Printable bio Confirmed for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Maj. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski is the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. She is responsible for managing the Air Force's $2.2 billion science and technology program as well as additional customer funded research and development of $2.2 billion. She is also responsible for a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory's component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the 711th Human Performance Wing. General Pawlikowski entered the Air Force in 1978 through the ROTC program at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, and received a Doctorate of Philosophy in chemical engineering in December 1981, entering active duty at McClellan AFB, Calif., in April 1982. The general has served in a variety of technical management, leadership and staff positions, to include Director of the Airborne Laser Program; Commander, MILSATCOM Wing; Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center; and Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office. EDUCATION 1978 Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark 1981 Doctorate of Philosophy in chemical engineering, University of California, Berkeley 1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1990 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1991 Program Managers Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va. 1994 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. ASSIGNMENTS 1. April 1982 - December 1984, Director, Gas Research and Development, Technical Operations Division, McClellan AFB, Calif. 2. December 1984 - March 1986, Chief, Mass Spectrometry and Micro-beam Instruments Branch, Technical Operations Division, McClellan AFB, Calif. 3. March 1986 - December 1987, Command Systems Plans Manager, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick AFB, Fla. 4. December 1987 - July 1989, Chief, Plans and Programs Division, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick AFB, Fla. 5. July 1989 - July 1990, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 6. June 1990 - December 1991, Deputy Chief, Special Projects Division, Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, N.Y. 7. December 1991 - July 1993, Senior Executive Officer, Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, N.Y. 8. July 1993 - June 1994, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 9. June 1994 - March 1996, Director, Acquisition Management Office, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 10. March 1996 - June 1997, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 11. June 1997 - June 1999, Chief, Revolutionizing Training Division, Training Systems Product Group, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 12. June 1999 - March 2000, Deputy Director, Global Power Programs, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 13. April 2000 - March 2005, Director, Airborne Laser System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 14. March 2005 - July 2007, Commander, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 15. July 2007 - May 2008, Vice Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 16. June 2008 - February 2010, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. 17. February 2010 - present, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 1994 - March 1996, Director, Acquisition Management Office, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel 2. March 1996 - June 1997, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a colonel 3. March 2005 - July 2007, Commander, Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., as a brigadier general 4. June 2008 - February 2010, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va., as a major general MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Individual Recognition Ribbon OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 1984 Commandant Trophy recipient, Squadron Officer School 1987 National Finalist, White House Fellowship Program 1994 Defense Acquisition Research Award 1999 Air Force Association Management Award - Executive EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant May 25, 1978 First Lieutenant May 25, 1981 Captain May 25, 1983 Major March 1, 1988 Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1992 Colonel Oct. 1, 1996 Brigadier General June 1, 2005 Major General July 22, 2008 (Current as of February 2010) 1) How did you get started in the satellite business? I got into the satellite business in 2005 when I was assigned as the MILSATCOM Systems Program Director at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. Up till then , I had extensive experience in technical program management but had no experience in satellite development before that. 2) How have you been involved in changes brought about in or by this business (innovations, technologies, services)? I have been involved in introducing new technologies in satellite communication (digital processing, laser communication in space) and also exploring new methods for acquiring space systems such as operational responsive space. 3) What do you think was the greatest event/situation/opportunity you experienced? I think the greatest opportunity was when I took the job as director of MILSATCOM. I had the opportunity to introduce new techniques to managing space acquisition programs and to introduce new technologies. I was able to introduce new techniques to managing complex system of systems management. This included techniques for configuration control and requirements management. 4) What was the greatest obstacle? The greatest obstacle was overcoming old think. The culture change has been much harder than the technical change. 5) What do you see happening in the next five years in this industry? I see huge opportunities for commercial space ventures to grow as the advances in military space. This will be a big boon for national security space as well. The industrial base will be strengthened and the market for space based services will grow as more and more customers demand the services. 6) What advice do you have for women interested in entering the industry? I encourage them to ensure that they are technically competent and business savvy. There are huge opportunities ahead of us!

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5/13/2011 10:44:00 PM

Change in leadership at AFRL PAUL COLLINS Staff Writer WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s Air Force Research Laboratory said farewell to its old commander and welcomed new leadership on Friday, May 13, when a change of command ceremony was held at the National Museum of the Air Force. With General Donald Hoffman presiding over the event, Major General Ellen M. Pawlikowski took the stage and handed over command of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to her successor, Major General William N. McCasland. Speaking to the audience, Hoffman described the ceremony as a continuation as AFRL’s “long and very justified record of excellence.” He praised Pawlikowski for tackling a “very busy tour” filled with “rearranging and reorganizing.” The general also assured his audience that McCasland was qualified to assume the duties of commander. “William comes to us well prepared for this job,” said Hoffman. Pawlikowski shared some parting words with the audience, describing her command as a “dream job.” She praised “extremely dedicated and creative team” of the lab for their “hard work, perseverance and dedication to the mission.” The departing commander called AFRL “a place where dreams have become reality,” and shared some of the projects that were launched under her watch. During her time at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Pawlikowski supervised a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory’s component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the 711th Human Performance Wing. “This is a great team and it is a vitally important mission for our Air Force and our country,” said Pawlikowski. Following Pawlikowski’s words, McCasland took the podium and described himself as the “proudest, luckiest Major General in the Air Force.” He stated that his reassignment to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base came during a “pivotal point in our Air Force” and promised maintain the lab’s high level of service in the realm of research and development. While talking to the press, McCasland stated that he had received the “luckiest gig you get in the Air Force” and praised the base for contributing to what he described as a “renaissance in Dayton.” McCasland comes to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from the Pentagon, where he served as the Director of Special Programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He told reporters that his order of business as commander of AFRL would be meeting with the lab’s tech directors.

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Obama taps AFRL leader for Missile post

The commander of Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is being promoted and moved to an Air Force base in California.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama nominated Maj. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski to receive a third star and take over the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif.