Ellen M. Pawlikowski

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 over 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]

Ellen M. Pawlikowski
General Ellen M. Pawlikowski, USAF
Born	1956 (age 64–65) East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1978–2018
Rank	General
Commands held	Air Force Materiel Command Space and Missile Systems Center
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit

Biography

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

Pawlikowski has 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 most recently Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center.

On February 18, 2015, the President of the United States nominated her for promotion to general and 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 8 June 2015, Pawlikowski assumed command of Air Force Materiel Command from General Janet C. Wolfenbarger.[5]

Following her retirement from the US Air Force in as of 9 August 2018, Pawlikowski accepted a place on the Board of Directors of Raytheon in September. She remains a member of the National Academy of Engineering.[6] As of August 2019, she serves as a Judge Widney Professor at the USC 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
	Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Legion of Merit
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Recognition Ribbon
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	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

• Second Lieutenant – May 25, 1978
• First Lieutenant – May 25, 1981
• Captain – May 25, 1983
• Major – March 1, 1988
• Lieutenant Colonel – April 1, 1992
• Colonel – October 1, 1996
• Brigadier General – June 1, 2005
• Major General – July 22, 2008
• Lieutenant General – June 3, 2011
• General – June 8, 2015

See also

• List of female United States military generals and flag officers

References

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. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gen-ellen-pawlikowski-recalls-trailblazing-career-air-force-article-1.3612649
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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