Dr. George Ka’iliwai III is the Director, Requirements and Resources (J8), Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command (HQ USPACOM). As the HQ USPACOM J8, Dr. Ka'iliwai facilitates the development of USPACOM requirements for the Future Years Defense Program, translates those requirements into material and non-material solutions through advocacy, science and technology, innovation and experimentation, leads the Command in the campaign assessment process, and is also responsible for managing and directing the HQ USPACOM $200M annual budget.

Prior to his appointment into the Senior Executive Service in 2007, Dr. Ka’iliwai served as the Chief Technology Officer and Technical Advisor, Air Force Flight Test Center from July 2003 through July 2007. As the Chief Technology Officer and Technical Advisor, Dr. Ka’iliwai provided the leadership and final review of the technical aspects of the center’s overall program as well as consultant advice and technical guidance to the center’s commander. Through the center’s commander, Dr. Ka’iliwai established policy and procedures and provided technical expertise to a work force of more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel. He also formulated the testing philosophy and testing approaches to assure scientific validity and maximum efficiency in accomplishing ground and flight tests.

For over 25 years, Dr. Ka’iliwai served honorably in the United States Air Force. From May 1978 to June 1994, Dr. Ka’iliwai was a National Defense Fellow, served with the Air Force Studies and Analyses Agency (now AF/A9), was a RAND Research Fellow, and managed several high-priority, classified DoD avionics flight test programs on high-value, prototype aircraft.

Dr. Ka’iliwai served as the Deputy Chief, Regional Strategy and Policy Division, Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate (J5), United States Pacific Command from June 1994 to July 1997. He led five active duty joint staff officers, nine reservists and two civilians; developed and implemented strategic concepts and policies that supported U.S. national interests and strategic objectives; researched, analyzed and assessed political-military developments throughout the Indo-Pacific region; developed the Command’s future military strategy and force structure for the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR); and was the Command’s top strategy briefer.

From July 1997 to July 1999, Dr. Ka’iliwai served as the Squadron Commander for the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron, Air Education and Training Command. He commanded 156 personnel to develop 350 promotion tests & analyze 260 career fields each year and developed enlisted promotion tests in which 98.4% of the questions were valid, fair, & credible. He was also the first commander to administer disk-based surveys and secured $225K for web-based surveys.

Dr. Ka’iliwai served as the Technical Director, Electronic Warfare Directorate, 412 Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center from July 1999 through January 2001. As Technical Director, he supervised over 30 engineers and managers and controlled $200 million in the Future Years Defense Program. He successfully led a team of engineers to develop the Air Force’s first-ever Electronic Warfare Test and Evaluation (T&E) Roadmap and chaired a multi-service DoD electronic warfare T&E resource panel.

From January 2001 through June 2003, Dr. Ka’iliwai served as the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. As Commandant, he oversaw the training of experimental test pilots, flight test navigators and flight test engineers to conduct and manage the ground and flight test evaluation of research prototype and production aerospace vehicles and their systems.

Dr. Ka’iliwai is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and attended the California Institute of Technology under the Senior Commander’s Education Program. He holds two master’s degrees from Golden Gate University. He is also a distinguished graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He earned a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California in December 2000.

Dr. Ka’iliwai’s Air Force decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), and Air Force Achievement Medal. While at the USAF Academy, he was a United States Track and Field Federation All- American. Dr. Ka’iliwai is the only non-rated officer to have commanded the USAF Test Pilot School. He is the International Society of Flight Test Engineers’ 2001 Kelly Johnson Award Recipient and Past President of the Society of Flight Test Engineers. He is also the recipient of the 2017 Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Skunk Works Award presented by The Engineers’ Council.