Jeffrey “Jeff” T. Staines is the Deputy Director of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. The complex employs more than 3,000 people and comprises more than $20B in defense infrastructure and 95 aerospace test facilities spanning eight states. AEDC’s capabilities are unmatched in span and scope supporting development of the Nation’s key strategic systems as defined in the National Defense Strategy. AEDC offers a suite of test capabilities to simulate speed, temperature, pressure, and other parameters over a wide range to meet the needs of aerospace test and technology development of hypersonic systems, directed energy, space, propulsion and more. All NASA manned spacecraft and every high-performance aircraft, missile, most space launch systems and many military satellites in use by the Department of War today have been developed and tested at the Complex.
Mr. Staines started his Air Force career as a Palace Acquire (PAQ) Intern in 2004 after graduating from Tennessee Technological University. His first assignment was at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold AFB, TN as a Project Engineer in the Test Technology Branch with a focus on test and evaluation (T&E) capabilities for DoW space and missile programs. Following that internship, he joined the Plans and Programs Division at AEDC to lead the justification and acquisition of multiple, high-value T&E facility capability upgrades.
Mr. Staines was selected for a multi-step broadening assignment, first to the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH to lead an international hypersonic flight program, and then to Headquarters (HQ) Air Force Material Command (AFMC) for the challenging responsibility of managing AFMC T&E Program Objective Memorandum (POM) inputs during the first year of sequestration. With that experience in hand, Mr. Staines returned to AEDC where the AEDC/CC assigned him to lead the ~$1.5B contract transition with the responsibility for the seamless transition of ~$3.3B in T&E work and infrastructure affecting ~2000 employees from one legacy contract to six different efforts/contract types. Over the last 20 years, Mr. Staines has developed a breadth of experience in T&E and science and technology (S&T), and he has led high-performing multi-functional teams at the Wing, Center, and MAJCOM levels.
Prior to his current position Mr. Staines served as the Director of the 715th Test Squadron, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
2004 Masters of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
2006 Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC), in-residence, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL
2008 Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Leadership for A Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, VA
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- May 2004 – June 2006, Palace Acquire (PAQ) Intern, Technology Branch, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold Air Force Base (AFB), TN
- June 2006 – July 2008, Technology Program Manager, Technology Branch, AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
- July 2008 – July 2010, Senior Planner, Plans and Programs Division (XP), AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
- July 2010 – August 2012, Program Manager, High Speed Aerodynamic Configuration Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB (WPAFB), OH
- August 2012 – September 2013, Test Resource Engineer, Test Resources Division, HQ Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), WPAFB, OH
- September 2013 – January 2014, General Engineer, Aeropropulsion Sustainment Branch, AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
- January 2014 – December 2015, Contracts Transition Manager, Detail to AEDC/CC, AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
- December 2015 – June 2019, Research Leader, High-Speed Experimentation Branch, AFRL, Arnold AFB, TN
- June 2019 – October 2021, Branch Chief, High-Speed Experimentation Branch, AFRL, Arnold AFB, TN
- October 2021 – February 2024, Deputy Chief, High-Speed Systems Division, AFRL, WPAFB, OH
- February 2024 – August 2026, Director, 715th Test Squadron, 804th Test Group, AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
- August 2026 – Present, Deputy Director, AEDC, Arnold AFB, TN
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Civilian Service Award – February 2024
Air Force Research Lab Aerospace Systems Directorate Supervisor of the Year – January 2020
Exemplary Civilian Service Award – December 2008
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
DAWIA/APDP Level III, Science and Technology Manager
DAWIA/APDP Level III, Test and Evaluation
DAWIA/APDP Level II, Program Management
(Current as of AUGUST 2026)