Kathy L. Watern, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The organization is the single center responsible for total life cycle management covering all aircraft, engines, munitions, and electronic systems. The center is responsible for more than 28,000 AFLCMC Airmen, civilian, and contractor employees performing center missions from 77 locations.
Ms. Watern began her career in private industry and entered federal civil service in 1984. She has served in a variety of financial management and acquisition assignments at Wright-Patterson AFB in the F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor, and Air Combat System Program Offices as well as the Acquisition Cost Division. She later served as the Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center.
Ms. Watern was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010. Prior to her current assignment, she served at the Pentagon as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller.
EDUCATION
1981 Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
1984 Master of Business Administration degree, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
2000 Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2001 Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2003 Civilian Advanced Management Program, Center for Creative Leadership Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Stanford Executive Education, Palo Alto, Calif.
2003 Darden Business School, Charlottesville, Va.
2008 Defense Leadership and Management Program, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1981 - August 1990, various assignments
2. August 1990 - February 1993, Chief, Cost Management Branch, Financial Management Directorate, F-15 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. February 1993 - October 1993, Chief, Resources Management Branch, Human Resources Development Division, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. October 1993 - August 1999, Chief, Estimating and Research Branch, Acquisition Cost Division, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. August 1999 - June 2000, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
6. June 2000 - July 2001, Chief, Estimating and Scheduling Branch, Acquisition Cost Division, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. July 2001 - November 2003, Chief, Financial Management Division, Air Combat SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. November 2003 - August 2009, Director, Financial Management Division, F-22 SPO, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. August 2009 - May 2010, Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, ASC/Financial Management and Costing Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. May 2010 – November 2012, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
11. November 2012 – February 2013, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
12. February 2013 – June 2016, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2016 – present, Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
AWARDS AND HONORS
2003 and 2007 Financial Management/Comptroller Organization of the Year
2008 Donna J. Back Leadership Award
2009 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2014 Air Force Presidential Rank Award
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Financial Management/Comptroller, Level III
Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) - Financial Management, Level III
Certified Defense Financial Manager - Acquisition
APDP – Program Management, Level III
(Current as of March 2023)