Colonel John W. Cornett is the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. As the U.S. Air Force’s Operational Test Agency, AFOTEC’s mission is to independently test and evaluate new capabilities in operationally realistic environments to inform warfighters and influence national resource decisions. The Center evaluates the overall mission capability of all Air Force acquisition category I and II programs, as well as other programs under the oversight of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. AFOTEC is a direct reporting unit to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and is comprised of 640 military, civilian, and contractor personnel including five detachments and numerous operating locations across the U.S.
Colonel Cornett received his commission following graduation from the University of Kentucky in 2000. He has operational experience in nuclear and conventional operations in the continental United States, at Andersen AFB, Guam as part of the Continuous Bomber Presence, Diego Garcia in Operation Enduring Freedom, and at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar supporting the fight against ISIS and other terrorist networks.
Colonel Cornett previously served as the Director of Operations for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He also served as the Deputy Director, Inspections Directorate and Inspection Team Chief, The Inspection Agency, Department of the Air Force. He has also served in a variety of assignments as a B-52H instructor electronic warfare officer and weapons officer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and Minot AFB, North Dakota. He held a staff assignment at Joint Chief of Staff J-33 in the Pentagon as a Presidential Strike Advisor and Bomber Planner. Additionally, he served as the Director of Operations for the 69th Bomb Squadron, where he led a successful deployment to Al Udeid, which was followed by commanding the 5th Operations Support Squadron in Minot AFB, N.D.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
2007 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, B-52 Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Business Administration, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2013 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2014 Master of Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
- January 2001 – November 2002, student, undergraduate navigator training, Pensacola NAS, Fla.
- November 2002 – September 2003, B-52 Initial Qualification Training student, Barksdale AFB, La.
- September 2003 – October 2005, B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer and Short-Range Scheduler, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
- October 2005 – July 2007, Defensive System Project Manager and Assistant Training Flight Commander, 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
- January 2007 – July 2007, student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
- August 2007 – July 2009, B-52 Weapons Officer and Operations Group Training Flight Commander, 2nd Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
- July 2009 – June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations and Strategic Flight Phase Manager, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
- June 2012 – June 2013, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
- June 2013 – June 2014, student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2014 – June 2016, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Presidential Strike Advisor, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- June 2016 – May 2018, Director of Operations, 69th Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
- May 2018 – May 2020, Commander, 5th Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
- May 2020 – June 2021, Fellow, Stimpson Center Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
- July 2021 – June 2023, Deputy Director Inspections Directorate, Department of the Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- June 2023 – May 2024, Director, Operations Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- May 2024 – present, Deputy Commander, Headquarters, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,586, including more than 578 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: B-52H
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal