Ellen M. Pawlikowski

Ellen M. Pawlikowski
General Ellen M. Pawlikowski
Born1956 (age 67–68)
East Orange, New Jersey, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1978–2018
RankGeneral
CommandsAir Force Materiel Command
Space and Missile Systems Center
Air Force Research Laboratory
Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit

Ellen Marie Pawlikowski (born 1956) is a retired four-star general of the United States Air Force. She last served as the commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from June 8, 2015, to the end of July 2018, managing some 80,000 people and $60 billion in Air Force programs annually.[1] Pawlikowski retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2018, after 40 years of service. She currently serves on the board of directors for Raytheon Technologies, one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the world, and is a Judge Widney Professor at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering.[2]

Military career

Born in East Orange, New Jersey and raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey,[3] Pawlikowski entered the United States Air Force in 1978 through the ROTC program at New Jersey Institute of Technology after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering. She then attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a Doctorate of Philosophy in chemical engineering in December 1981, entering active duty at McClellan AFB, California, in April 1982.

Pawlikowski served as Director of the Acquisition Management Office for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy and as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation. Her leadership assignments have included Program Director of the Airborne Laser program, commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center.

On February 18, 2015, the President of the United States nominated Pawlikowski for promotion to general and as assignment as commander of the Air Force Materiel Command. Pawlikoski's promotion and assignment to AFMC were confirmed by the United States Senate on March 27, 2015.[4] On June 8, Pawlikowski assumed command of Air Force Materiel Command from General Janet C. Wolfenbarger.[5]

Post-military career

Following her retirement from the United States Air Force on 9 August 2018, Pawlikowski accepted a place on the Board of Directors of Raytheon in September. Pawlikowski was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2014 for leadership in the development of technologies for national security programs including spacecraft operations and the Airborne Laser.[6] As of August 2019, she serves as a Judge Widney Professor at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering.

Major awards and decorations

Her major awards and decorations include:

Master Space Operations Badge
Air Force Master Acquisition and Financial Management Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges.
 Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award (second ribbon to denote tenth award)
Air Force Training Ribbon

Dates of promotion

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellen M. Pawlikowski.
  1. ^ "Air Force Link: Biography of General Ellen M. Pawlikowski". Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  2. ^ Ellen M. Pawlikowski elected to Raytheon board of directors
  3. ^ "Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recalls challenging path as Air Force trailblazer, prepares to honor veterans in NYC". New York Daily News.
  4. ^ "Senate confirms AFMC senior leader nominations". Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  5. ^ "Watch the Wright-Patterson Command change live Monday". Dayton Daily News. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. ^ Newly retired head of Air Force Materiel Command talks about the org’s future challenges, Valerie Insinna, Defense News, 2018-09-16
Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
2008–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center
2011–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command
2015–2018 		Succeeded by