Colonel Maryann Karlen is the Deputy Commander for the Air Force Test Center. AFTC is a $31-billion enterprise of more than 19,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Eglin AFB, Fla., Arnold AFB, Tenn., and more than 30 geographically-separated units. The AFTC provides developmental test and evaluation of experimental and research, manned and unmanned air, space and cyber systems for the military services, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and international partners, in addition to operating the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
Col Karlen graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and an Air Force ROTC commission. Col Karlen served as a C-17 Instructor Pilot, flying missions across the globe and combat missions in support of OPERATIONs ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM. The Colonel was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards. Col. Karlen served as a test pilot in the KC-10, KC-135, C-17 for the 418th Flight Test Squadron. Col. Karlen was then selected as an Exchange officer to the U.K. where she served as Director of Operations and as a Test Pilot, becoming the first American qualified on the A400M. She commanded the Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron with 29 different Air Force Specialty Codes spread across six geographically separated locations and executing a $460,000 test budget. Prior to her current assignment, Col. Karlen was the Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
EDUCATION
2003 B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 M.S., Flight Test Engineering, USAF TPS, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2013 M.S., Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
2014 Defense Acquisition University Test & Evaluation Engineering - Level III
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (via correspondence)
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (via correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS:
- May 03, Commissioned, Reserve Officer Training Corps
- August 03 – July 04, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mo.
- July 04 – February 05, Student, C-17 Flying Training Unit, Altus AFB, Okla.
- February 05 – August 09, Instructor Pilot, 6th AS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- August 09 – August 10, Research Pilot, 418th FLTS, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- August 10 – December 11, Executive Officer, 412th TW, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- December 11 – December 12, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- December 12 – April 15, Test Pilot, 418th FLTS, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- April 15 – August 18, Exchange Officer, 206th Sqn, MOD Boscombe Down, UK
- August 18 – December 19, Director of Operations, 418th FLTS, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- December 19 – June 20, Deputy Commander, 412th Operations Group, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- June 20 – June 22, Commander, AMC Test and Evaluation Squadron, JBMDL, N.J.
- June 22 – June 24, Deputy Commandant, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- June 24 – Present, Deputy Commander, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,300
Aircraft flown: C-17, A400M, KC-135, KC-10, C-12, T-38, Tucano and 28 other aircraft
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal, Three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant May 23, 2003
First Lieutenant May 28, 2005
Captain May 28, 2007
Major Nov. 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2018
Colonel Sept. 1, 2024
(Current as of September 2024)