Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air ForceThis is the official portrait of Maj. Gen. Heather L. Pringle.EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
                      
                      Second Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                May 29, 1991First Lieutenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 29, 1993Captain                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          May 29, 1995Major                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            March 01, 2002Lieutenant Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               December 01, 2006Colonel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          September 01, 2011Brigadier General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                April 02, 2017Major General                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    May 07, 2021
            Major General HEATHER L. PRINGLEMaj. Gen. Heather L. Pringle retired as the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Dayton, Ohio, and Technology Executive Officer, supporting both the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. She led a $2.5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise in accelerating the discovery and development of solutions for Airmen and Guardians. She was responsible for formulating a comprehensive technology portfolio that anticipates future warfighter needs, while promoting risk-taking and problem solving across her 6,000-member government workforce. She accelerated the delivery of cross-domain solutions through partnerships with industry, academia, and international allies, and executed an additional $2.3 billion in externally funded research and development. Through the laboratory's technology and functional directorates, AFWERX and the 711th Human Performance Wing, her team produced a deep technical and medical bench, pushed the boundaries of modern technology and improved the science for tomorrow.
Prior to her last assignment, Maj. Gen. Pringle served as the Director of Strategic Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.**EDUCATION**
1991 Bachelor of Science, Human Factors, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1992 Master of Arts, Engineering Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Doctorate of Philosophy, Engineering Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.**ASSIGNMENTS**
1. August 1991–August 1992, Student, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
2. September 1992–July 1994, Operations and Control Integration Manager, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Program, Electronic Systems Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
3. August 1994–June 1995, Executive Officer, 66th Air Base Wing, Electronic Systems Command, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
4. June 1995–July 1997, Instructor/Personnel Officer, Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
5. August 1997–May 2000, Student, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
6. June 2000–July 2003, Assistant Professor/Executive Officer, then Assoc. Prof/Human Factors Track Chief, Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
7. July 2003–July 2005, Deputy, later, Chief, Warfighter Training Research Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, Mesa, Ariz.
8. July 2005–June 2006, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2006–July 2007, Israel Country Director/European Command Branch Chief, Mideast/Africa Division, Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, Rosslyn, Va.
10. August 2007–February 2008, Staff Director, Political Advisor’s Office, Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan
11. March 2008–August 2008, Iraq Country Director/Assistant Division Chief, Mideast/Africa Division, Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, Rosslyn, Va.
12. August 2008–July 2010, Commander, 555th International Materiel Squadron, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. August 2010–June 2011, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2011–May 2013, Analysis Branch Chief, later, Deputy Chief, Program and Budget Analysis Division, Joint Staff J-8, Washington, D.C.
15. May 2013–May 2014, Vice Commander, 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
16. May 2014–August 2016, Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. August 2016–June 2018, Commander, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
18. June 2018–June 2019, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analyses, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
19. June 2019–June 2020, Director of Strategic Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
20. June 2020–June 2023, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
21. August 1, 2023–Retired**SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS**
1. July 2011–May 2013, Analysis Branch Chief, later, Deputy Chief, Program and Budget Analysis Division, Joint Staff J-8, Washington, D.C., as a colonel**MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS**
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
(Current as of June 2023)Department of the Air Force Logo