Background
Nielsen, Paul Douglas Son of Jack Alton and Shirley Mae (Gillette) Nielsen.
retired military officer engineering executive
Nielsen, Paul Douglas Son of Jack Alton and Shirley Mae (Gillette) Nielsen.
Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics, United States Air Force Academy, 1972. Master of Science in Applied Science, University California, Davis, 1973. Doctor of Philosophy in Plasma Physics, University California, Davis, 1981.
Master of Business Administration, University New Mexico, 1977. Postgrad., National War College, 1989.
Physicist National Security Agency Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, 1973—1975. Space system procurement officer nuclear technologies Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, 1975—1977. System programs management officer nuclear technologies Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 1977—1978, aide to Commander, 1977—1978.
Space system procurement management officer Headquarters Air Force Specialty Code, 1978. Military research associate Department Energy Lawrence Livermore The National Library, 1978—1981. Assistant chief advanced system, chief Satellite Attitude Control branch, Satellite Engineering division, secretary Air Force Office Special Projects, Los Angeles Air Force Station, California, 1981—1984.
System program director electronics system division Command Center Processing and Display Systems Replacement Program, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1984—1985. System program director Space Defense Ops Center, 1985—1987. Chief engineer Strat.
Systems Deputate, ESD, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1987—1988. Military assistant, colonel Office of Assistant Secretary Defense, Washington, 1989-1992. Commander Rome Laboratory, Griffiss Air Force Base, 1992-1995.
Command director Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Sta, Colorado, 1995—1996, chief operations, 1996-1997. Brigadier general, director plans North America Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, 1997-1999. Vice Commander Aeronautical Systems Center, AFMC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1999-2000.
Commander Air Force Research Laboratory, 2000—2004. Chief Executive Officer, director Software Engineering Institute Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, since 2004. With United States Air Force, 1972, retired United States Air Force, 2004, Second lieutenant, 1972, 1st lieutenant, 1974, captain, 1976, major, 1981, lieutenant colonel, 1986, colonel, 1989, brigadier general, 1997, major general, 2001.
Fellow: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Hap Arnold award 2002), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (president 2007-2008). Member: Air Force Association, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, National Academy Engineering.
Married Dorothy Webb Spragins, May 3, 1975.