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THOMAS J. GOULTER, JR.

Thomas J. Goulter, Jr. is the Executive Director, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He leads more than 10,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel, in accomplishing the 96th Test Wing's missions of developmental testing and evaluation of conventional munitions, command and control systems, aircraft avionics and guidance systems, and radar cross section measurement. The 96th TW has eight groups and 32 squadrons, operates 38 uniquely modified test aircraft, and manages 120,000 square miles of over-water test ranges plus facilities in six states. He also directs all base operating support, infrastructure, and services support for the Air Force's largest installation at 726 square miles. The 96th TW hosts nine tenant wings and wing equivalent units -- to include the 33rd Fighter Wing (F-35 Joint Strike Fighter), 53rd Wing (Operational Test), 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Center -- and 37 other associate units including the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Training Battalion and the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron. As executive director, he interacts with local officials across a three-county, 11-city region with an annual military economic impact of $11.9 billion.

Mr. Goulter received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1990. His distinguished military career includes extensive command and staff experience across Air Force Major Commands, combatant commands, and the Pentagon. He has commanded multiple squadrons, a mission support group, and served in deployed leadership roles in Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, including as a Provincial Reconstruction Team Commander. His background includes special operations, agile combat support, security cooperation, and nuclear command and control operations. Prior to his current position, he served in senior civilian roles at Hurlburt Field, Fla., as the Associate Dean for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School and as the Director of Staff for the 705th Training Squadron, 505th Command and Control Wing.

  EDUCATION

1990  Bachelor of Science in Geography, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1991  Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1995  Master of Science in Management Information Systems, Bowie State University, Bowie, Md.
1996  Academic Instructor School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1997  Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003  Master of Military Operational Art and Science,  Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004  Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2008  Air War College, by correspondence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011  Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012  Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab-National Security Analysis Program, Laurel, Md.
2026  Doctoral Candidate, Doctor of Educational Leadership, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. August 1990 - December 1991, Air Force Institute of Technology Student, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
  2. December 1991 - December 1992, Officer in Charge, Special Operations Weather Team, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
  3. January 1993 - August 1993, Officer in Charge, Special Operations/Cadre Weather Team, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Fulda, Germany
  4. August 1993 - December 1994, Weather Support Officer/Special Operations Representative to Allied Command Europe Mobile Force Land and the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, 617th Weather Squadron, US Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany
  5. January 1995 - August 1995, Commander, A-Flight, 617th Weather Squadron/Special Operations Representative to AMF(L) and the ARRC, Heidelberg Army Airfield, Germany
  6. August 1995 - May 1998, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, AFROTC Detachment 805, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
  7. May 1998 - May 2000, Weather Flight Commander/19th Air Force Staff Weather Officer, 12th Operations Support Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
  8. December 1999 - May 2000, Commander, 7th Expeditionary Weather Squadron (Combat and Special Operations Weather Team for Task Force Falcon), Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
  9. May 2000 - June 2001, Wing Executive Officer, 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, Texas
  10. July 2001 - July 2002, Chief, Operational Applications Branch, Headquarters Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Neb.
  11. August 2002 - June 2003, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  12. June 2003 - June 2005, Chief Stan/Eval Meteorology and Oceanography Officer, Airborne Command Post, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
  13. June 2005 - July 2008, Commander, 1st Services Squadron; Commander, 1st Force Support Squadron; Commander, 1st Security Forces Squadron; and Deputy Commander, 1st Mission Support Group, Langley AFB, Va.
  14. January 2006 - May 2006, Commander, 386th Expeditionary Services Squadron, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
  15. August 2007 - March 2008, Commander, 332nd Expeditionary Services Squadron, Balad AB, Iraq
  16. July 2008 - July 2009, Chief, Air Force Warrior/Survivor Care and Combat Support Plans/Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
  17. July 2009 - June 2010, Deputy Commander, 755th Air Expeditionary Group, and Commander, Kapisa Provincial Reconstruction Team, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
  18. July 2010 - May 2011, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  19. June 2011 - June 2012, Chief, Personnel Readiness and Force Support Readiness Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
  20. June 2012 – June 2014, Commander, 28th Mission Support Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
  21. June 2014 – July 2017, Director, Host Nation Coordination Cell, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
  22. July 2017 – June 2020, Director, Theater Security Cooperation, U.S. Air Forces Central Command Plans and Requirements, Shaw AFB, S.C.
  23. April 2021 - January 2023, Deputy Program Manager and Senior Military Advisor to the Ministry of Defense, Saudi Armed Forces, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  24. January 2023 - November 2023, Associate Dean, Theater Engagement, U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  25. November 2023 – December 2025, Director of Staff, 705th Training Squadron, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
  26. December 2025 - Present, Executive Director, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
  27. FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Aircrew (Non-rated Ops)

Flight Hours: More than 590

Aircraft flown: E-6B

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Legion of Merit with “C” Device and two oak leaf clusters

Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Army Achievement Medal

Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Recognition Ribbon (Weather Officer of the Year)

National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star

Kosovo Campaign Medal with one bronze service star

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars

Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star

Humanitarian Service Medal

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

NATO Medal with one bronze star

National Defense Medal of France (Gold Level)

Parachutist Badge

French Parachutist Badge

(Current as of March 2026)