Mr. Devon Parker is the Chief of Plans and Programs, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tennessee. He leads a team of twenty-three people across five branches, ranging from Intelligence, Strategic Plans and Transformation, Technical Management, Test Capabilities Integration, both locally and at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. Mr. Parker is responsible to the test wing commander for development of the annual financial plan, POM, strategic plan and measures for reporting, transformation and continuous improvement, capability base planning for operation, sustainment, and improvement of RDT&E ground test capabilities.
Mr. Parker began his Air Force career in October 2010 after working 14 years in private industry, the majority of which at Arnold AFB performing test and evaluation of aeropropulsion systems. Mr. Parker has over 18 years of ground test experience where he served in multiple leadership roles from lead test engineer to Deputy Director of Aeropropulsion Combined Test Force.
Prior to his current assignment, he served as Chief of the Test Capabilities Integration Branch where he lead the organization responsible for identifying ground test capability gaps across DoD, including new technologies that must be developed and matured to meet emerging test requirements for major defense acquisition programs needed to modernize the Department of the Air Force and support the National Defense Strategy.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Technical University, Cookeville, Tenn.
2009 Master of Science in engineering, University of Alabama, Huntsville, Ala.
2011 Air Command and Staff College (by seminar)
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 1996 – August 1997, Process Engineer and Supervisor, Milliken & Company, Greenville, S.C.
2. August 1997 – October 2000, Design Engineer, Peterbilt Motors Company, Nashville, Tenn.
3. October 2000 – February 2003, Project Manager & Engineer, Haworth (First Source Furniture), Nashville, Tenn.
4. February 2003 – April 2007, Test & Evaluation/System Engineer, Arnold Engineering & Development Center, Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.
5. April 2007 – October 2010, Lead Test & Evaluation/System Engineer, Arnold Engineering & Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
6. October 2010 – October 2016, Aerospace Engineer, Test Capabilities Integration, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
7. October 2016 – October 2017, Deputy Director, Aeropropulsion Test Branch, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
8. October 2017 – January 2020, Branch Chief, Test Capabilities Integration, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
9. February 2020 – Present, Chief, Plans & Programs, Arnold AFB, Tenn.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS [OPTIONAL FOR ALL]
2001 Society of Automotive Engineers Sections Board Gold Award of Excellence
2013 AEDC Engineer of the Quarter
2014 Special Acts Award from AEDC/CC for AFRL design competition for AFSOC
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:
T&E Level III
6 Sigma Black Belt
(CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 2021)