Ted Bowlds is a CEO, Board Member and retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General with over 40 years of in-depth experience leading strategy, planning, organizational development and technology investment for high profile, complex, commercial, and military organizations.
Lt Gen Bowlds is currently an independent consultant in Washington, DC and has held the titles of President, CEO, CTO and CIO in the aerospace and defense industry including roles with Flight Safety International and IAI North America. He served as Commander of the Electronic Systems Center, at Hanscom AFB, MA, an organization with over 12,000 employees at six sites responsible for acquiring command and control systems for the Air Force, joint and coalition forces. He also served as Commander of Air Force Research Laboratories, a scientific research organization focusing on the development of aerospace technologies and the implementation of strategic Air Force science and technology.
Responsible for all Air Force scientific research and development, he led the strategic investment strategy that resulted in tighter alignment with the future needs of the operational commands and championed the early research into the adaptive versatile engine concept now ready for the F-35. As a member of the Air Force Studies Board, he evaluated multiple technologies and approaches to solving critical operations needs. He also evaluated challenges such as multi-domain command and control, improving innovation, and Air Force laboratory research priorities.
Lt Gen Bowlds led advanced technology research in support of satellite developments, many in support of high priority National programs and developed the initial strategy for the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) upgrade program. He has experience and proficiency in executing a wide range of acquisitions to include the $3B per year C-17 program—development of new capabilities on schedule, aircraft productions ahead of delivery requirements and on budget, fleet sustainment higher than specification.
He earned his PhD in Systems Engineering at George Washington University and holds two Master of Science degrees: one in Engineering Management from the University of Dayton and one in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He also completed the Flight Test Engineers Course at the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB in California.