Ellen M. Pawlikowski

Born in East Orange, New Jersey and raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey,^[3] Pawlikowski entered the United States Air Force in 1978 through the ROTC program at New Jersey Institute of Technology after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering. She then attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a Doctorate of Philosophyinchemical engineering in December 1981, entering active duty at McClellan AFB, California, in April 1982.

Pawlikowski served as Director of the Acquisition Management Office for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy and as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Counterproliferation. Her leadership assignments have included Program Director of the Airborne Laser program, commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing, Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center.

On February 18, 2015, the President of the United States nominated Pawlikowski for promotion to general and as assignment as commander of the Air Force Materiel Command. Pawlikoski's promotion and assignment to AFMC were confirmed by the United States Senate on March 27, 2015.^[4] On June 8, Pawlikowski assumed command of Air Force Materiel Command from General Janet C. Wolfenbarger.^[5]

Following her retirement from the United States Air Force on 9 August 2018, Pawlikowski accepted a place on the Board of Directors of Raytheon in September. Pawlikowski was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2014 for leadership in the development of technologies for national security programs including spacecraft operations and the Airborne Laser.^[6] As of August 2019, she serves as a Judge Widney Professor at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering.

Her major awards and decorations include:

• Second Lieutenant – May 25, 1978
• First Lieutenant – May 25, 1981
• Captain – May 25, 1983
• Major – March 1, 1988
• Lieutenant Colonel – April 1, 1992
• Colonel – October 1, 1996
• Brigadier General – June 1, 2005
• Major General – July 22, 2008
• Lieutenant General – June 3, 2011
• General – June 8, 2015

• List of female United States military generals and flag officers