Colonel JASON C. VAP

Col Jason Vap is Commander, 804th Test Group, Arnold Engineering Development Complex.  The Group employs nearly 2,000 people, supports and executes ground and flight test activities, and develops, sustains, and operates more than 35 test facilities across locations in five states.  With facilities at Arnold Air Force Base in middle Tennessee, with operating locations at Ames Research Center, Mountain View and Edwards AFB, California; Peterson SFB, Colorado; Eglin AFB, Florida; the Federal Research Center at White Oak, Maryland, and Hill AFB, Utah, the Group‘s suite of test capabilities simulate speed, temperature, pressure and other parameters to meet the needs of developers for a wide range of aerospace systems, from rotary wing aircraft to high-performance fighter, bomber, and airlift aircraft; unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles; intercontinental ballistic missiles; hypersonic systems and spacecraft.

Prior to taking command of the 804th Test Group, Vap was the Military Assistant to the Chief Scientist of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. 

Col. Vap enlisted in the Air Force in 1994 and served as an avionics technician on B-52Hs and earned his commission through the Airmen Education and Commissioning Program in 2002. He then completed his MSEE at the University of Wyoming, where he carried out research on carrier lifetimes in semiconductor quantum dot lasers. Following graduation, he was assigned to the Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate where he specialized in the developmental testing of LADAR and weapon datalink systems. He is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and served as the lead flight test engineer on the Airborne Laser during the low power phase of flight testing and the integration and ground testing of the high energy laser weapon system. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2012 and transitioned to a joint assignment with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). At DTRA, he served as a Deputy Mission Commander on Open Skies Treaty Missions conducted over the United States and the Russian Federation. He also led the United States team through the certification of the Russian Federation’s electro-optical sensors employed on the Tu-154 and An-30 aircraft. Following this assignment, he commanded the 846th Test Squadron (Holloman High Speed Test Track) at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. Prior to assuming the Military Assistant to the Chief Scientist of the Air Force position, Col Vap was the Deputy Program Manager for F-35 Vehicle Systems in the F-35 Joint Program office in Arlington, Virginia.

EDUCATION

2002 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Wyoming
2004 Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Wyoming
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2007 Master of Flight Test Engineering, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Cal.
2008 Distinguished graduate, U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2019 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pen.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. September 1994 - May 2002, B-52H Avionics Technician and Airmen Education a Commissioning Program Student
2. August 2002 - February 2004, MSEE Student, University of Wyoming
3. February 2004 - February 2005, Lead LADAR Test Engineer, Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. February 2005 - June 2006, Weapon Datalink Engineer, Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. June 2006 - June 2007, Flight Test Engineering Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Cal.
6. June 2007 - Jul 2009, Flight Commander, Lead Flight Test Engineer, Airborne Laser Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Cal.
7. August 2009 - December 2012, Ph.D. Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. December 2012 - July 2015, Deputy Mission Commander, Lead RDT&E Officer, Open Skies Treaty Office, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Ft Belvoir, Va.
9. August 2015 - June 2016, Certification Director, Open Skies Treaty Office, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Ft Belvoir, Va.
10. June 2016 - June 2018, Commander, 846th Test Squadron (Holloman High Speed Test Track), Holloman AFB, N.M.
11. August 2018 - June 2019, Student, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pen.
12. June 2019 - June 2020, Deputy Program Manager, Follow-on Modernization, F-35 Joint Program Office, Arlington, Va.
13. June 2020 - June 2021, Deputy Program Manager, Vehicle Systems, F-35 Joint Program Office, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2021 - Apr 2022, Military Assistant to Air Force Chief Scientist, Headquarters Air Force Staff, Washington, D.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant  Aug. 16, 2002
First Lieutenant  Aug. 16, 2004
Captain  Aug. 16, 2006
Major  Nov. 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel  Jan. 1, 2016
Colonel  May 1, 2021

(Current as of August 2022)