Katherine Stevens

Katherine Stevens

Katherine A. Stevens, Ph.D., a member of the Senior Executive Service, is director, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. She is responsible for planning and executing the Air Force's advanced materials, processes, and manufacturing technology programs to support all elements of Air Force acquisition and sustainment. Stevens is also responsible for interfacing these areas throughout the corporate Air Force and Department of Defense. She oversees an annual budget of more than $450 million and directs the activities of approximately 1,200 scientists, engineers, and support personnel at five different geographic locations.

Stevens began her career with the Air Force in 1979 at the Air Force Materials Laboratory, WPAFB, researching high-temperature materials for advanced turbine engine applications. During her more than 20 years developing, transitioning, and consulting on materials and manufacturing, she worked on a number of key materials and processes, primarily for advanced and legacy turbine engines, including those powering the F-22 and F-35. She later influenced a much broader array of materials and processes developments and applications from key Materials and Manufacturing Directorate leadership positions.

After serving as the Director of Plans and Programs at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., she moved to the Department of the Navy in 2006 to assume the position of the Director of Aerospace Science Research at the Office of Naval Research. There she was the senior focal point for science and technology related to naval aviation and oversaw a broad portfolio of basic and applied research. This included the areas of air vehicles and propulsion, aerodynamics, aircraft structures, gas turbine engines, control systems, and ship or air-launched weapons. She was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in October 2006.

Education

Stevens graduated from Wright State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in materials science and engineering. In 1987, she received her Master of Science degree in metallurgical engineering from Ohio State University, and in 2002, she received her Doctorate of Philosophy degree in materials science and engineering, also from Ohio State University. In 2006 she recieved a Master of Science degree in business management from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University in California. 

Accomplishments

  • Vincent J. Russo Award for Leadership Excellence, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL - 2000
  • Reserve Supervisor of the Year Award, AFRL - 2002
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, College of Engineering from Ohio State University - 2004
  • Senior Executive Service - 2006
  • Director of Aerospace Science Research at the Office of Naval Research