William Bailey

Director and Program Executive Officer

Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office [DAF/RCO]

William D. Bailey, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Director and Program Executive Officer for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. He directs selected study, development and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office has been responsible for the development and deployment of significant upgrades to the National Capital Region’s Integrated Air Defense System, the B-21 Raider-- America’s next generation Long Range Strike Bomber and the development and launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Other responsibilities include technical integration of Department of Defense classified activities, and the representation of these activities to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress and the White House.
Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, in 1988 and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force the same year. He began his career as an avionics engineer and later chief engineer in the Medium Launch Vehicles System Program Office at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Following graduation from U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Mr. Bailey served in a variety of test assignments including flight commander, chief engineer, operations officer, squadron commander and finally Chief of the Test Division at Arnold Engineering Development Center. He also directed the development of new technologies for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office as well as for the Air Force Research Laboratory. Mr. Bailey holds a senior non-rated Officer Aircrew badge.
Mr. Bailey retired from active duty in 2015 with more than 26 years of military experience as an acquisition professional. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2015 and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics prior to his current position.

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