The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of aerospace warfighting technologies, planning and executing the Air Force science and technology program, and providing warfighting capabilities to United States air, space, and cyberspace forces. It controls the entire Air Force science and technology research budget which was $2.4 billion in 2006.
The Commander of Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is responsible for managing the Air Force's science and technology program as well as additional customer funded research and development. The commander is also responsible for a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory's component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the 711th Human Performance Wing.
The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the world's only dedicated independent space force. Along with the U.S. Air Force, the Space Force is part of the Department of the Air Force, led by the secretary of the Air Force. The military heads of the Space Force are the chief of space operations, who is one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and vice chief of space operations.
David Dean Thompson is a United States Space Force general who has served as the first vice chief of space operations since 2020. He previously served as the vice commander of the Space Force from 2018 to 2020.
Donna D. Shipton is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as the military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. She previously served as the deputy director and commander of the Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office.
The United States Space Force is organized by different units: the Space Staff, the field commands, and the space deltas.
Stephen G. Purdy Jr. is a United States Space Force major general who serves as commander of Space Launch Delta 45, program executive officer for assured access to space, director of the Eastern Range, and director of launch and range operations of the Space Systems Command.
Evan Carleton Dertien is a United States Air Force major general who serves as the commander of the Air Force Test Center. He most recently served as the director for air, space, and cyberspace operations of the Air Force Materiel Command and prior to that served as the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. In February 2021, he was confirmed for promotion to major general and assigned to become the commander of the Air Force Test Center, replacing Maj Gen Christopher Azzano. He assumed his present assignment on July 15, 2021.
Troy Edward Dunn is a United States Air Force major general serving as commander of the Air Force Personnel Center since May 19, 2022.
Anthony W. Genatempo is a United States Air Force major general who serves as the director of the C3I Networks Directorate at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. He previously commanded the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center from 2020 to 2022.
David A. Harris Jr. is a United States Air Force major general who served as the deputy commander of the Ninth Air Force. He previously served as the director of the Integration and Innovation Center.
Laura L. Lenderman (née Cook) is a United States Air Force Major General who serves as the director of operations of the United States Transportation Command. She previously served as the director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration of the Air Mobility Command.
Brian David Sidari is a United States Space Force brigadier general who serves as the director of intelligence of the United States Space Command. A career intelligence officer, he has commanded 6th Intelligence Squadron and previously served as vice commander of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing.
Kristen Leigh Panzenhagen is a United States Space Force brigadier general who serves as the senior military assistant to the under secretary of the Air Force. She previously served as the senior material leader for the Integrated Ground Enterprise Directorate of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), is a US program for unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) and considered broadly equivalent to loyal wingman. CCAs are intended to operate in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Unlike the conventional UCAVs, the CCA incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), denoted an "autonomy package", and is capable of surviving on the battlefield. It is still expected to be much lower-cost than a manned aircraft with similar capabilities. The US Air Force plans to spend more than $6 billion on its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs over the next five years (2023 to 2028). The success of the CCA program could lessen the need for additional manned squadrons.
