Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders

    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      101202-F-JZ023-385.JPGEngage On
        
        101202-F-JZ023-385.JPGDR. KEVIN T. GEISSDr. Kevin T. Geiss, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Va. Dr. Geiss leads the management of the United States Department of the Air Force’s global basic research investment. AFOSR has a staff of 200+ scientists, engineers and business professionals in Arlington and international offices in the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, Chile and Australia. In this role, Dr. Geiss ensures the success of a $540 million-per-year basic research investment portfolio and the transfer of resulting discoveries to Air Force Research Laboratory directorates, defense industries and other federal agencies. The office’s annual investment in basic research is distributed among roughly 200 leading academic institutions worldwide, 100 industry-based contracts and more than 250 internal AFRL research efforts.



Dr. Geiss was formerly with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology at the Pentagon, where he last served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Science and Technology Futures. In that position, he was responsible for the integration and oversight of Department of Defense science and technology investment. He ensured the long-term strategic direction of the Department’s S&T program and guided technologies needed for continued technological superiority of United States military forces.



Dr. Geiss enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1986 and served in field artillery, communications and military police units during his service. He spent nine

years as a defense contractor supporting Air Force research programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He began his civilian career with the Air Force Research Laboratory in 2002. He was then detailed to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he performed policy and budget review of national security science and technology programs, resolved policy and funding issues with the Office of Management and Budget and led interagency committees on national security.



In 2008, Dr. Geiss joined the Department of the Army as the Program Director for Energy Security. He developed and implemented the Army energy security strategy through coordination across Army Headquarters staff and Secretariat offices. Dr. Geiss led the Army Energy Security program to address power and energy issues for the facilities and installations domain, in weapon systems and for contingency operations.



Dr. Geiss was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010 and served as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy. Dr. Geiss provided oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs and budgets for the effective and efficient use of energy to support the global Air Force mission.



In 2014, Dr. Geiss returned to AFRL as the Director of the Airman Systems Directorate in the 711th Human Performance Wing, which provides science and leading-edge technology to define Airman and Guardian capabilities and enhance effectiveness.



**EDUCATION**

1990 Bachelor of Arts, chemistry, Cedarville University, Ohio

1993 Master of Science, chemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

2001 Doctor of Philosophy, zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

2002 Software Professional Development Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2005 Executive Education Certificate, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

2007 National Senior Intelligence Course, Washington, D.C.

2009 Army Force Management Course for General Officers and Senior Executives, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2012 DoD Vanguard Senior Executive Leadership Program, Washington, D.C.

2019 Senior Managers in Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.



**CAREER CHRONOLOGY**

1. June 1986–February 1994, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

2. August 1993–February 2002, Research Scientist, Geo-Centers, Inc., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

3. February 2002–December 2005, Senior Research Scientist, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

4. January 2006–September2007, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.

5. September 2007–October 2008, Assistant Director for National Defense, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.

6. November 2008– November 2010, Program Director, Energy Security, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Headquarters Department of the Army, The Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

7. November 2010–May 2014, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment and Logistics, The Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

8. May 2014–December 2020, Director, Airman Systems Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

9. December 2020–December 2023, Director, Science and Technology, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, The Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

10. December 2023–March 2024, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Science and Technology Futures, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, The Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

11. March 2024–Present, Director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Va.



**MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS**

2005 Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award

2006 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award

2009 Army Superior Civilian Service Award (2)

2010 Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award

2013 Service to America Medal for Management Excellence, Partnership for Public Service

2013 F. Ward Reilly Leadership Award, Civil Air Patrol

2014 Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award

2020 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award



(Current as of April 2024)
  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil