Colonel Evan C. Dertien is the Vice Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He assists the commander in accomplishing AFRL’s mission of leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. He plays a key role in directing the Air Force’s $2.1 billion science and technology program and an additional $2.3 billion in externally funded research and development. He is also responsible for a government workforce of approximately 6,000 people in the laboratory’s nine component technology directorates, and the 711th Human Performance Wing.
Colonel Dertien received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in June 1993. After attending Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training he served as an operational F-15 pilot and completed three combat deployments. He then served as an F-15 RTU instructor pilot and was selected to attend USAF Test Pilot School.
After graduating from USAF TPS, he worked as an F-15, F-16 and F-22 test pilot in various test assignments. He was also assigned as an initial cadre instructor pilot for the first operational F-22 unit at Langley AFB, Virginia. Colonel Dertien has served as a Flight Test Squadron Commander, Vice Wing Commander, Test Wing Commander and Vice Center Commander.
Colonel Dertien is a Command Pilot with over 3,000 flying hours in a variety of aircraft.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor’s Electrical Engineering, U.S.A.F. Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1995 Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas - Distinguished Graduate
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. - Distinguished Graduate
2002 USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif. - Distinguished Graduate
2005 Master of Aeronautical Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.
2006 Defense Adv Research Projects Agency (DARPA), IDE Fellowship, Arlington, Va.
2011 Masters--National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Nov 1993 - Dec 1994, student pilot, 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2. June 1995 - Dec 1995, F-15 upgrade training, 1st Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
3. Dec 1995 - Jun 1998, F-15 pilot, 390th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
4. Jun 1998 - Jun 2001, F-15 instructor pilot, 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. Jun 2001 - Jun 2002, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7. Jun 2002 - Aug 2003, F-16/F-15 test pilot, 40th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
8. Aug 2003 - Jun 2005, F-22 test pilot, 411th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
9. Jun 2005 - Jul 2006, F-22 instructor/flight examiner, 27th Fighter Sq, Langley AFB, Va.
10. Jul 2006 - Jun 2007, DARPA Fellowship IDE, Arlington, Va.
11. Jun 2007 - Jun 2008, Ops Officer, F-22 Combined Test Force, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. Jul 2008 - Jun 2010, Commander, 40th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. Jul 2010 - Jun 2011, student, Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, D.C.
14. Jul 2011 - Mar 2012, assignment data masked
15. Mar 2012 - Jul 2012, Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
16. Jul 2012 - Jul 2013, assignment data masked
17. Jul 2013 - Feb 2014, Vice Commander, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
18. Feb 2014 – Jun 2016, Commander, assignment data masked
19. Jul 2016 – Present, Vice Center Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB, Ohio
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,000; Combat Hours: 180+
Aircraft Flown: F-15, F-22, F-16 and 25 other aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1993
First Lieutenant June 2, 1995
Captain June 2, 1997
Major Aug 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 1, 2007
Colonel Sep 1, 2011
(Current as of Aug 2016)