Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory

The Commander of Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is responsible for managing the Air Force's science and technology program as well as additional customer funded research and development. The commander is also responsible for a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory's component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the 711th Human Performance Wing.

Below is a list of commanders of Air Force Research Laboratory and the terms in office.

Chronological list of Air Force Research Laboratory commanders

Photo	Name	Term of Office	Presidential Administration(s)	Significant events
Image:Richard R. Paul	Maj Gen Richard R. Paul	Apr 1997–2000	Clinton	First AFRL Commander 1998 United States embassy bombings Operation Infinite Reach Kosovo War
Image:Paul D. Nielsen	Maj Gen Dr. Paul D. Nielsen	Apr 2000–2004	Clinton/Bush	USS Cole Bombing 9/11 Attacks War in Afghanistan War in Iraq War on Terrorism 2002 Bali Bombings Capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Death of Uday Hussein Death of Qusay Hussein Capture of Saddam Hussein
Image:Perry L. Lamy	Maj Gen Perry L. Lamy	Jun 2004–Nov 2005	Bush	War in Afghanistan War in Iraq War on Terrorism 2005 Bali Bombings
	Maj Gen Ted F. Bowlds	Jan 2006–Nov 2007	Bush	War in Afghanistan War in Iraq War on Terrorism Death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Execution of Saddam Hussein Death of Mullah Dadullah
Image:Curtis M. Bedke	Maj Gen Curtis M. Bedke	Oct 2007–Feb 2010	Bush/Obama	War in Afghanistan War in Iraq War on Terrorism
Image:Ellen M. Pawlikowski	Maj Gen Dr. Ellen M. Pawlikowski	Feb 2010–May 2011	Obama	War in Afghanistan War in Iraq War on Terrorism Death of Abu Ayyub al-Masri Death of Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi Death of Osama bin Laden
Image:William N. McCasland	Maj Gen Dr. William N. McCasland	May 2011–July 2013	Obama	Afghanistan War War on Terrorism
	Maj Gen Thomas J. Masiello	July 2013–May 2016	Obama
	Maj Gen Robert D. McMurry, Jr.	May 2016–May 2017	Obama
	Maj Gen [1] aspx William T. Cooley]	May 2019–Present	Trump