1. Kenneth S. Van Wickler
4 Honeysuckle, Irvine, CA 92614-7084
(434) 409-7184; ksvanwickler@gmail.com
Summary: A well-seasoned team leader and aviator with experience in corporate and military
arenas seeking a challenging position achieving efficient and cost-effective customer solutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
September 2009 to September 2013: Effectively led and managed headquarter-level staff teams
as Chief of Program Integration, Air Superiority Team Chief of Programming and Chief of Force
Structure while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF Voluntary Recall Program.
 Ably performed as the Air Defense Liaison Team (ADLT) Senior Duty Officer in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia while forward deployed as a member of AFCENT (CENTCOM) helping
regional allies effectively defend their national airspace against real-world hostile threats
 Augmented the US Army’s European Headquarters Staff (EUCOM) in Stuttgart, Germany
while effectively managing numerous far-flung in-country liaison offices throughout Europe
and western Asia in the J-5 Staff
March 2000 to June 2009: Lead Program Manager for Northrop Grumman Corporation
(Electronic Systems) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Lockheed Martin’s Simulation &
Training division.
 Recognized expertise in courseware analysis and development as a Subject Matter Expert
(SME) authoring a new Weapons Systems Officer course syllabi for a then-developing RSAF
in-country schoolhouse; enhanced rapid manpower solutions for allied commanders
 Lead program manager on the manufacture and certification of a complex state-of-the-art
Machinery Control System (MCS) valued at approximately $80M; completed on-time
component deliveries despite major engineering design challenges and sub-contractor
production delays
 Introduced the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) into numerous manufacturing
projects while demonstrating the potential benefits of these toolsets to senior managers in
predicting and controlling project costs while maintaining realistic production schedules
 Entrusted with the management of two leading-edge radar development efforts worth over
$11M while managing a doubling of the engineering staff developing these new capabilities
 Led the engineering and production team credited with updating and delivering the last
tranche of over 2000 AN/APG-68 radars to the F-16C/D production line valued at over $16M
with new enhancements and reliability improvements
 Effectively oversaw over twenty AN/APG-66 FCR logistics support efforts and capability
demonstrations for critical Department of Defense,Department of Homeland Defense and
foreign Air Force customers
January 1992 to December 1999: U.S. Air Force MAJCOM Staff Action Officer, Headquarters
Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base,Texas.
 Directed and coordinated with multiple DoD agencies to define and publish the initial
training requirements for imminent fielding of the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor resulting
in the successfuldesign, development and delivery of pilot and maintenance training devices,
facilities and courseware at selected F-22A beddown locations

2.  Directed an extremely successful$25M program to define, fund, and field a new generation
of F-15C Eagle flying training devices; embedded emerging technologies into part-task
trainers to create networked,high-fidelity simulators and with state-of-the-art visual systems;
served as prototypes for today’s ubiquitous advanced tactical simulators
 Charged with leading and directing a ten-person Flight, Weapons and Ground Safety shop at
Incirlik AB, Turkey (1995-1996) implementing effective safety programs encompassing
numerous operational units throughout the Middle East while supporting operations over
northern Iraq without major incident or injury to base personnel
Prior to January 1992: U.S. Air Force Pilot & Instructor Pilot during flying duties in Germany,
Iceland and at Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
 Extensive expertise from serving as Instructor Pilot, Mission Commander and Flight
Commander in the F-15A/C Eagle while stationed at Holloman AFB and NAS Keflavik as an
essential part of NATO arms
 As a Flight Commander, supervised the training and seasoning mission-ready F-15 pilots and
helped prepare them for future leadership roles in the air and as effective leaders in their
future squadrons
 Ensured the availability of maneuvering airspace and active weapons ranges to match the
training requirements of over 1000 student pilots as Wing Chief of Scheduling
 Successfully intercepted, identified and escorted 22 enemy bomber formations as they
penetrated Icelandic airspace while participating in armed NATO intercept missions
 Extensive tactical experience including air defense,“Wild Weasel”,conventional and non-
conventional roles in the F-4 Phantom II while flying throughout Europe during the Cold War
EDUCATION & FORMALTRAINING
- Bachelor of Science in Physics from The Citadel in Charleston, SC (1979)
- Master of Arts in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, MO (1987)
- NGC Core Curriculum, Electronic Systems University in Baltimore, MD (2004)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Results Sharing Award (NGC) for AN/APG-66/68 Radar Production Programs, 2003
Numerous military awards and decorations for superior performance,professionalism and
mission execution during a twenty four-year career (1980-2000; 2009-2013)
PERSONAL
Secret Clearance (Inactive; current through 04/20)
Top Secret (Expired in 04/15)
Member, Air Force Association
Member & Docent, Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, VA
Member & Docent, Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA