Expertise
Strategy Development, Program Management, Source Selection and Sole Source Negotiation, Process Improvement and Change Agent, International Programs
Profile
Lynda Rutledge is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience leading large, complex organizations and managing major weapon systems. She has a proven record as a change agent for US Air Force (USAF) acquisition, directing multiple weapon system portfolios to success. As a two-time program executive officer (PEO), deputy PEO and program manager (PM) responsible for airlift, tankers, trainers, fighter and bomber aircraft, aircraft simulators, agile combat support (ACS) systems and armament weapon systems, she has extensive experience leading and managing all stages of acquisition including strategy formulation, requirements development, source selection, negotiation, program execution, policy formation, and workforce initiatives, as well as leading programs through all life cycle phases including analysis of alternatives (AoA), development, production, sustainment and modernization. Ms. Rutledge is highly skilled in building, mentoring and leading high-performance, diverse teams focused on excellence and continuous improvement—maximizing organizational efficiencies and workforce development.
Significant Career Accomplishments
Acquisition and Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) on over 800 programs, including all mobility platforms, fighters, bombers, weapons, fuzes, support equipment, simulators, aircrew flight equipment, common avionics, and electronic warfare. Developed and/or approved acquisition strategies critical to the modernization and sustainment of the USAF fleet and international partners.
Developed key improvement recommendations to Chief of Staff of the Air Force—all were adopted to include delegation of decision authorities to PMs, elimination of duplicative requirements documents for service acquisitions, increasing decision dollar thresholds for PEOs and PMs, and many others, resulting in years of schedule savings.
Led one of Air Force Materiel Command’s (AFMC) most diverse materiel systems directorates with more than 1,600 military, civilian, and contractor personnel charged with executing an annual budget of approximately $9B. Responsible for program execution, executive management and personnel supervision for the USAF’s electronic warfare, common avionics, human systems, automatic test systems, and aircraft training simulators and supported Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and over 60 partner nations in FMS.
Responsible for cost, schedule, performance, and life cycle management of the fighter and bomber aircraft modernization and sustainment portfolio, including the B-1, B-2, B-52, F-16, F-15, F-22, A-10, Light Air Support (LAS), special projects, and associated combat systems. Also responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the F-35 System Program Office.
Key Positions
PEO, Mobility & Training Aircraft (AFLCMC/WL)
PEO, Agile Combat Support Systems (AFLCMC/WN)
Deputy PEO, Fighter & Bomber Aircraft (AFLCMC/WW)
Chief, Acquisition Support Division, Resources & Assessment Directorate (J8), USSOUTHCOM
Director, Direct Attack Systems Group
Education
MS, Systems Engineering, University of Florida
BS, Mathematics, University of Florida
