Expertise
Leadership, Flight Test Engineering, Strategic Decision Making, Defense Strategy, Defense Acquisition, Aeronautical Engineering
Profile
Colonel Charles “C.B.” Cain, USAF (Ret) spent over 20 years as a US Air Force (USAF) executive with operational, flight test, and leadership experience. He is a combat-proven C-17 instructor and evaluator pilot experimental test pilot with over 2,300 flight hours in more than 25 different aircraft. C.B. led multiple developmental test programs in the C-17A, C-130H, C-130J, and C-12 and oversaw testing of weapons and ejection seat; radar; directed energy; counter unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and inertial and guidance systems, to include global positioning system (GPS) and GPS jamming and survivability; as well as wheels, brakes, and landing gear systems. He served at the Pentagon on the Air Staff supporting USAF requirements and the Joint Staff at the National Military Command Center (NMCC).
Significant Career Accomplishments
As the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Vice Commander, simplified and consolidated staff functions and processes to curtail redundancy and enhance efficiency—with 28K personnel across nine major operating centers, oversaw a $304B operating budget to deliver everything from uniforms and ejection seats to aircraft and missiles.
Provided oversight of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) 704th Test Group’s mission to operate world-class test facilities for high-speed sled track testing, navigation and guidance system testing, radar signature measurements, and weapon systems flight testing, and acted as the Air Force Liaison for all USAF programs tested.
As Chief of the Air Force Research Laboratory Warfighter Readiness Research Division (AFRL/RHA), conducted training research to create and validate methods, models, and technologies for learning and persistent readiness in and across USAF missions; provided oversight of the departments responsible for conducting training research to provide affordable, adaptive, and open solutions for personalized, persistent training.
Served as principal assistant and advisor to the Joint Staff J-3 Deputy Director for Operations for Emergency Actions within the National Military Command Center (NMCC); coordinated with the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), federal agencies, and Combatant Commands (COCOMS) to enable crisis decision making.
Led the Global Reach Combined Test Force, a 300-person team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel, executing worldwide flight test programs on experimental systems and highly modified C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-10, KC-46, and KC-135 aircraft and parachute/airdrop systems.
Key Positions
Vice Commander, AFLCMC
Commander, 704th Test Group, AEDC
Chief, AFRL/RHA
Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, J-33, The Joint Staff
Commander, 418th Flight Test Squadron
Director of Operations, 418th Flight Test Squadron
C-17 and C-130 Test Pilot, 418th Flight Test Squadron
Education
MS, Aeronautical Engineering, University of Washington
MS, Strategic Studies, Army War College
MS, Flight Test Engineering, USAF Test Pilot School
BS, Aeronautical Engineering, US Air Force Academy (USAFA)
