Kelly J. Branscom is the Director of Staff for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He directs the activities of the AFOTEC Headquarters Command Staff to include the Commander’s Action Group, Public Affairs, Information Protection, History, Multimedia, and Protocol offices. He provides direct support to the AFOTEC Commander, Executive Director, Vice Commander and Technical Advisor. As a Direct Reporting Unit to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, AFOTEC is comprised of more than 640 military and civilian personnel spread across six headquarters directorates, five detachments, and 17 operating locations. Mr. Branscom provides direct coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Headquarters Air Force, major commands and other services supporting AFOTEC’s test and evaluation of more than 90 major acquisition programs valued at more than $798 billion.
Prior to this assignment, Mr. Branscom was the Senior Program Manager for the AFOTEC Operations Directorate. In this role he advised headquarters and detachment personnel as the subject matter expert on Operational Test Program Management for the entire AFOTEC portfolio.
Prior to entering federal civilian service in 2010, Mr. Branscom served more than 27 years active duty as an aircraft maintenance professional, first sergeant, and eventually retired as a Chief Master Sergeant and the Chief Enlisted Manager for AFOTEC. Mr. Branscom is a master-level aircraft maintenace professional with practical experience on the RF-4C, F-117A, F-15A/B/C/D/E, F-22, KC-135, C-130, C-17, and AWACS. During his active duty career, he deployed several times in support of Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
EDUCATION
1999 Associates of Applied Science in Aircraft Systems Maintenance Management, Community College of the Air Force
1999 Associates of Applied Science in Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1982 – September 1982, student, U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. September 1982 – October 1982, student, Aircrew Egress Systems Technical Training, Chanute AFB, Ill.
3. October 1982 – October 1986, aircrew egress systems technician, 67th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
4. October 1986 – October 1990, aircrew egress systems technician, 4450th Tactical Group, Tonopah Test Range, Nev.
5. October 1990 – September 1994, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Egress Element, 49th Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
6. September 1994 – July 1997, First Sergeant, 7th Fighter Squadron, then 49th Medical Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
7. July 1997 – July 2000, First Sergeant, 65th Communication Squadron, then 65th Logistics Group, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
8. July 2000 – May 2004, First Sergeant, 92nd Civil Engineering Squadron, 92nd Maintenance Squadron, and 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
9. May 2004 – July 2005, Maintenance Superintendent, 92nd Maintenance Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
10. July 2005 – July 2008, Maintenance Superintendent, 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
11. July 2008 – July 2010, Chief Enlisted Manager, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
12. October 2010 – October 2020, Senior Program Manager, Operations Directorate, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
13. October 2020 – present, Director of Staff, Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with a silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION
1982 U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
1982 Honor graduate, Aircrew Egress Systems Technical Training, Chanute AFB, Ill.
1985 NCO Preparatory Course, Bergstrom AFB, Texas
1989 John Levitow honor graduate, Tactical Air Command NCO Leadership School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
1991 Distinguished graduate, Air Force Systems Command NCO Academy, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
1995 Distinguished graduate, U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 U.S. Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 U.S. Air Force Chief Leadership Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.