Colonel JOEL J. LUKER Colonel Joel Luker is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He aids the commander in leading more than 12,500 people to execute a 7.5 billion dollar budget to discover, develop, and integrate warfighting technologies for the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Space Force (USSF). He oversees a 127 million dollar budget to upgrade state-of-the-art research facilities distributed globally across 21 sites, and he directs the AFRL Headquarters’ (HQ’s) daily operations, including managing the 219 million dollar AFRL HQ budget. Colonel Luker is the senior military advisor for over 525 Air Force and Space Force officers. Colonel Luker received his commission in March 1994 as a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Minnesota Reserve Officer Training Corps. He began active duty in June 1994 and has held various acquisitions assignments including posts in the San Antonio Air Logistics Center, the 46th Test Wing, and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. He has been a Senior Materiel Leader in both AFRL and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), a Squadron Commander at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and Deputy Commander of the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base. Colonel Luker’s staff experience includes a tour on the US Air Force Red Team. He is a 2002 graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School and has flown over 50 different types of aircraft. EDUCATION: 1994 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities; With Honors 1995 Master of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology; Distinguished Graduate 1998 Squadron Officer’s School; Squadron Distinguished Graduate 2002 United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Flight Test Engineering 2006 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Correspondence 2007 Master of Military Operational Arts and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College, Air University; Distinguished Graduate 2010 Advanced Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Defense Acquisition University 2010 Air War College, Air University, Correspondence 2013 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College; Distinguished Graduate (Highest Distinction) 2019 Executive Program Manager’s Course, Defense Systems Management College, Defense Acquisition University ASSIGNMENTS: 1. June 1994 – December 1995. Student, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 2. December 1995 – November 1998. Computational Aerodynamics Engineer, Air Vehicles Directorate, Wright Laboratory / Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 3. December 1998 – August 2000. Aeronautical Engineer, San Antonio Air Logistics Center, Kelly AFB, TX. 4. August 2000 – November 2001. Chief, Exercise Evaluation Team, Lackland AFB, TX. 5. December 2001 – December 2002. Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA. 6. January 2003 – July 2006. Chief, Precision Strike Branch & Director of Test Operations, Air-to-Surface Test Flight, 780th Test Squadron, 46th Operations Group, 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, FL. 7. August 2006 – June 2007. Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL. 8. June 2007 – July 2008. Chief, Advanced Programs, USAF Red Team, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Bolling AFB, DC. 9. July 2008 – July 2010. Joint System Program Manager, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Bolling AFB, DC. 10. July 2010 – June 2012. Commander, Electronic Analysis Squadron, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 11. July 2012 – June 2013. Student, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, RI. 12. June 2013 – July 2014. Deputy Commander, 412th Operations Group, Edwards AFB, CA. 13. August 2014 – May 2015. Chief, High Speed Systems Division, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 14. June 2015 – April 2018. Senior Materiel Leader and Deputy Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. (Acting Director October 2015 – June 2016) 15. April 2018 – June 2022. Senior Materiel Leader and Chief, Special Operations Forces/Personnel Recovery Division, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 16. June 2022 – Present. Vice Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Winner, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Essay Competition, 2013 Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Air Force Achievement Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION: Second Lieutenant 24 March 1994 First Lieutenant 08 May 1996 Captain 08 May 1998 Major 01 June 2004 Lieutenant Colonel 01 March 2009 Colonel 01 June 2015 (Current as of September 2023