Air Force names two new leaders at AFRL

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Air Force Manpower and personnel officials at the Pentagon announced Nov. 4 a change in leadership for two key organizations within the Air Force Research Laboratory here.

Wendell Banks, will succeed Dr. David Jerome as director of AFRL's Sensors Directorate. Mr. Banks is currently AFRL's director for Plans & Programs. A native of Verona, Ohio, he holds both a Bachelor's and Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton. He will assume responsibility in developing the science and technology necessary for superior U.S. air and space systems in the areas of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, precision engagement and electronic warfare. The Sensors Directorate's primary areas of technology investment include radio frequency sensors and countermeasures, electro-optical sensors and countermeasures, automatic target recognition, electronic devices, and anti-tamper technologies.

Gail Forest, will become director, Plans and Programs, vacating her current position as associate director for Air Platforms, with AFRL's Air Vehicle's Directorate. A former manufacturing engineer with General Motors Corporation, she is holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering, Kettering University, Flint, Mich., along with a Master of Science degree in administration from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. She was awarded a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy, from National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. Ms. Forest will take over responsibility for developing and managing the processes that define AFRL's $2 billion annual investment in technologies for future Air Force systems. These systems include space, weapons, aeronautics, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Dr. Jerome will retire at the end of December. He plans to return to northwest Florida, near where he began his career as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base in 1981. Dr. Jerome has held a variety of leadership positions in science & technology, engineering & technical management, and test & evaluation at Eglin, Wright-Patterson and Arnold Air Force Bases and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. The Ohio native is the author of more than 30 scientific publications and three inventions, and a member of the editorial review staff for three scientific journals. He also held an adjunct faculty appointment with the University of Florida, where he taught graduate-level courses in engineering. Most recently he oversaw the Sensors Directorate's implementation of BRAC consolidation, establishing Wright-Patterson and the Dayton region as a Center of Excellence for advanced sensors development.

"We're blessed to have some extremely talented scientists and engineers to lead our research efforts," said Maj. Gen. Ellen Pawlikoswki, commander of AFRL. "I congratulate and want to sincerely thank Dr. David Jerome for his many years of service to our Air Force and the nation and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Wendell Banks and Gail Forest in their new positions of leadership here."

All of the positions are Senior Executive Service, the federal civil service equivalent of a general officer.