Expertise
Propulsion Systems Development and Integration, Propulsion Airworthiness, Propulsion System Safety, Propulsion System Sustainment
Profile
Dr. Keith Numbers is recognized as a national/international authority in flight propulsion for the US Air Force (USAF) with over 35 years of experience serving in various capacities in the propulsion engineering career field across the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition life cycle. He provided engineering leadership and assistance for propulsion systems in the areas of technology transition, design, development, acquisition, production, sustainment, and airworthiness of jet engine propulsion systems for multiple USAF aircraft. Dr. Numbers was the former propulsion Senior Technical Advisor for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC).
Significant Career Accomplishments
Senior AFLCMC technical advisor and expert national/international authority in flight propulsion, responsible for providing advice and guidance to the highest USAF and US Government officials, as well as nationally important military aerospace weapon system programs.
Led transformation of USAF propulsion enterprise into digital engineering, guiding long term goals, assessing government and industry digital capability, and implementing near term actions.
Completed successful preliminary design for adaptive turbine engine technology development for F-35 application.
Established AS2030+ propulsion roadmap for AFLCMC and Air Combat Command (ACC) including development milestones and projected acquisition cost.
Responsible for developing the Blackswift reusable hypersonic turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) flight demonstrator program technical milestones, acquisition strategy, and leading the multi-organizational technical team from AFRL, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Successfully completed source selection for a multi-industry flight demonstration valued at roughly $1B.
Served as Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) focal point for Long Range Strike (LRS) technology planning and development—responsible for assessing USAF capability needs, identifying critical technologies, and developing laboratory wide roadmaps, and budget strategies.
Key Positions
Senior Technical Advisor, Propulsion, AFLCMC/EN-EZ
Weapon System Integration Lead, Turbine Engine Division, AFRL/RQT
Chief Engineer, Blackswift Program Office, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL/RB
Lead, Long Range Strike Technology, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL/RB
Technical Advisor, Integration and Demonstration Branch, AFRL/VAAI
Team Lead, Airframe Propulsion & Weapons Integration Branch, AFRL/VAAI
Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Propulsion Integration Branch, AFRL/VAAI
Education
PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Cincinnati
MS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton
BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Cincinnati
Distance Learning Program, Air War College
Air Force GS-15 Leadership Seminar, Air University
Managing Complex Projects, Western Management Development Center
Low Observables Short Course, Air force Research Laboratory
SYS 201 System Planning, Research, Development & Engineering, Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
