Ellen M. Pawlikowski

Ellen M. Pawlikowski is a retired general of the United States Air Force who served as the commander of Air Force Materiel Command. A distinguished engineer and program manager, her career focused on leading major acquisition and technology development organizations within the United States Department of Defense. Following her military service, she has served on several prominent corporate and advisory boards, contributing her expertise in systems engineering and national security.

Early life and education

Born in Newark, New Jersey, she is the daughter of a United States Air Force master sergeant and a teacher. Pawlikowski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She subsequently received a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where her research contributed to advanced materials science.

Military career

Commissioned in 1978, her early assignments included roles at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base. She held significant program management positions within the Air Force Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office, overseeing critical satellite and space systems. Pawlikowski served as the program director for the Airborne Laser program and later as the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, driving innovation in areas like directed-energy weapons and autonomous systems. Her final assignment was as commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where she led the service's entire research, development, test, and acquisition enterprise.

Post-military career and corporate boards

Since retiring from the United States Air Force in 2018, Pawlikowski has served on the boards of major defense and technology corporations. She is a member of the board of directors for Lockheed Martin, Textron, and L3Harris Technologies. She also serves on the National Academy of Engineering Council and the MITRE Corporation Board of Trustees, providing strategic guidance on complex engineering challenges and national security issues.

Awards and honors

Her decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. She is a recipient of the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster and has been honored with the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award. Pawlikowski is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in the development and deployment of national security space systems.

Personal life

She is married to retired United States Air Force Colonel Kenneth Pawlikowski. The general has been a vocal advocate for STEM education and mentorship, frequently speaking on leadership and engineering careers. She maintains involvement with alumni associations of the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley.

Category:United States Air Force generals Category:American military personnel of the 21st century Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal