The Air Force R&D Balancing Act

On Dec. 9, IEEE Spectrum interviewed U.S. Air Force Major General Richard R. Paul on his service’s R&D efforts and critical issues in acquisition and development. The general is director of science and technology for the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), in Ohio. The science and technology program in his charge has an annual budget of US $1.46 billion and employs over 6000 people in the four U.S. Air Force laboratories and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. General Paul previously was deputy commander for advanced technology at the Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom AFB, Mass., and commander of Wright Laboratory (at Wright AFB), the largest aerospace laboratory complex in the service. He holds two degrees in electrical engineering: a 1966 BS from the University of Missouri at Rolla and a 1971 MS from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB. Laser weaponry, commonality of parts, and research team management are some topics of this interview with the service's Director of Science and Technology.