2001 George Ka'iliwai III

Nomination of Colonel George Ka'iliwai III
for the
SFTE 2001 Kelly Johnson Award

It is my privilege to nominate Colonel George Ka'iliwai III for the SFTE 2001 Kelly Johnson Award. George Ka’iliwai III is the first-ever flight test engineer to rise through the flight testing ranks to become the Commandant of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS), assuming command in January, 2001. As the current TPS Commandant, Colonel Ka’iliwai is responsible for producing highly trained experimental test pilots, flight test navigators, and flight test engineers who will conduct and manage ground and flight test evaluation of research prototype and production aerospace vehicles and their systems. In addition to overseeing the extensive, graduate-level academic curriculum, Colonel Ka’iliwai is in charge of the USAF Test Pilot School flying curriculum of over 4,400 hours per year in a wide range of military, commercial, highly modified, experimental, and vintage foreign and US aircraft.

Col. Ka’iliwai began his flight test career in 1978 and has over twelve years ground and flight test and evaluation experience at the Air Force Flight Test Center. He also has three years of modeling and simulation experience at the RAND Corporation and Air Force Studies and Analyses Agency, and two years experience in human systems integration while Squadron Commander of the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron.

Prior to assuming command of the USAF Test Pilot School, Colonel Ka’iliwai was the Technical Director of the 412 Test Wing Electronic Warfare Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base. In this role, Col. Ka’iliwai was responsible for the strategic planning of the Air Force’s electronic warfare test and evaluation mission area and was service lead for the Department of Defense (DOD) Electronic Combat Reliance Panel. Col. Ka’iliwai was also the Directorate focal point for the systems engineering process, ten improvement and modernization programs totaling $200M in the Future Years Defense Program, and the resource allocation process.

Col. Ka'iliwai’s flight test experience began in 1978 and includes flight testing numerous highly classified DOD aircraft and avionics systems which have contributed significantly to our nations military capability. His unclassified flight test experience includes the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system, the A-10 Single Seat Night Attack (SSNA) aircraft, the B-1A ALQ-161 defensive avionics suite, and the HAVE QUICK radio. He was a member of the initial flight test cadres for the LANTIRN system and A-10 SSNA aircraft.

Col. Ka’iliwai has a Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in educational leadership. He also earned a Master of Science in Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the USAF Academy. He has four years teaching experience at two colleges.

Col. Ka’iliwai is a Senior Flight Test Engineer and Lifetime Member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal.

Col. Ka’iliwai was a distinguished graduate of the USAF Academy, Squadron Officer School, USAF Test Pilot School (Flight Test Engineering Course), and Air Command and Staff College. He completed his Senior Service School as a National Defense Fellow at the Mershon Center, Ohio State University.

Col. Ka’iliwai’s flight test career has been nothing short of spectacular. The significance of becoming the first-ever flight test engineer to be selected as Commandant of the USAF Test Pilot School shows how much trust the senior leadership of the Air Force places in Colonel Ka’iliwai to prepare the technologically-savvy flight test leaders of the 21st century and cannot be overemphasized. Colonel George Ka’iliwai III is worthy and deserving of the prestigious Kelly Johnson Award for 2001, and it is my pleasure to respectfully submit him for this high honor in recognition of his significant achievements in the flight testing community.