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    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      Kathy L. Watern official photoEngage OnFacebook PostsYour browser is incompatible with this widget.
                        
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        Kathy L. Watern official photoKATHY L. WATERNKathy L. Watern, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of the Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. She serves as the senior civilian official in the force development, management, and sustainment of the Command’s 89,000 military and civilian professionals. These individuals are located throughout the U.S. and overseas in research facilities, test sites, universities and at product development, logistics and specialized centers. Ms. Watern works with AFMC senior leadership to shape a dynamic workforce to deliver war-winning expeditionary capabilities and provides oversight, direction and control for all force support activities within AFMC.
Ms. Watern began her career in private industry and entered federal civil service in 1984. She has served in a variety of financial management and acquisition assignments at Wright-Patterson AFB in the F-15, F-22 and Air Combat System Program Offices as well as the Acquisition Cost Division. Prior to moving to Headquarters Air Force, she worked as the Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center. She was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2010.
Prior to her current assignment, she was Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio.**EDUCATION AND TRAINING**
1981 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
1984 Master of Business Administration, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
2000 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2001 Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2003 Civilian Advanced Management Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Stanford Executive Education, Palo Alto, Calf.
2003 Darden Business School, Charlottesville, Va.
2008 Defense Leadership and Management Program, Washington, D.C.
2022 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.**CAREER CHRONOLOGY**
1. June 1981–August 1990, various assignments
2. August 1990–February 1993, Chief, Cost Management Branch, Financial Management Directorate, F-15 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
3. February 1993–October 1993, Chief, Resources Management Branch, Human Resources Development Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. October 1993–August 1999, Chief, Estimating and Research Branch, Acquisition Cost Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. August 1999–June 2000, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
6. June 2000–July 2001, Chief, Estimating and Scheduling Branch, Acquisition Cost Division, ASC, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. July 2001–November 2003, Director, Financial Management Division, Air Combat SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. November 2003–August 2009, Director, Financial Management Division, F-22 SPO, Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. August 2009–May 2010, Director, Cost and Economics Analysis Division, Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. May 2010–November 2012, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
11. November 2012–February 2013, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
12. February 2013–June 2016, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cost and Economics, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2016–August 2023, Executive Director, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. August 2023–present, Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio**AWARDS AND HONORS**
2003 and 2007 Financial Management/Comptroller Organization of the Year
2008 Donna J. Back Leadership Award
2009 and 2023 Meritorious Civilian Service Award 2014 Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award 2019 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award**PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS**
Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) – Financial Management, Level III Certified Defense Financial Manager – Acquisition
APDP – Program Management, Level III
(Current as of September 2023)
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