Maj. Gen. David A. Harris, commander of the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, will address the Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference in Lancaster Feb. 26.
Harris, who directs a $31 billion enterprise of more than 18,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB, Fla., and Arnold AFB, Tenn., is expected to update an audience of more than 800 at the annual day-long conference organized by the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.
The Flight Test Center develops, tests and evaluates experimental and research air and space vehicles, as well as cyber systems for military services, DARPA, NASA and international partners, in addition to operating the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB in southeastern Kern County.
Globally recognized for its decades-long history of achieving breakthroughs in aerospace technologies, including the first supersonic flight, Edwards continues to be a cornerstone of the Southern California economy.
Tickets for the 44th annual conference are available from the Antelope Valley Board of Trade office in Palmdale. Call 661-947-9033, or purchase online at www.avbot.org.
Harris was commissioned in 1986 after completing Brigham Young University’s Air Force ROTC program as a distinguished graduate. He has held various assignments in flying units including Instructor and Evaluator Electronic Warfare Officer in the EF-111A, and experimental flight test weapon systems officer in the B-1B. He has also served as a legislative fellow with the 106th U.S. Congress and in a joint-staff assignment as Chief of Current Operations at U.S. Forces, Japan.
He served as director of the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force and commanded the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards. He is a graduate of Air War College, and served as deputy director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and as special assistant for Base Realignment and Closure at Headquarters AFMC. He also served as commander of the 46th Test Group at Holloman AFB, N.M.
Prior to taking command of the Air Force Test Center, Harris was a wing commander at Eglin AFB. He is experienced in multiple aircraft weapons systems, is a master combat systems officer with more than 2,000 flying hours, and has combat experience in the EF-111.