Robert F. Behler is a retired

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

and

computer security Computer security, cybersecurity (cyber security), or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from attack by malicious actors that may result in unauthorized information disclosure, t ...

expert who served as the

Director, Operational Test and Evaluation The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) is the principal staff assistant and adviser to the US Secretary of Defense on operational and live fire test and evaluation activities involving U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems. Re ...

at the

United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secur ...

from 2017 to 2021. Behler previously served as the chief operating officer and deputy director for

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

Software Engineering Institute The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is an American research and development center headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its activities cover cybersecurity, software assurance, software engineering and acquisition, and component capab ...

. He has also held posts as president and chief operation officer of SRC Inc., as senior vice president and general manager at Mitre Corporation, and as the business area executive of Precision Engagement at

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hemisphere. It consiste ...

Applied Physics Laboratory The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (Applied Physics Laboratory, or APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center (UARC) in Howard County, Maryland. It is affiliated with Johns Hopkins University and emplo ...

. Behler was formerly commanding general at the Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center as well as the deputy commander at Joint Headquarters North,

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

. An experimental test pilot with the U.S. Air Force, he flew more than 65 aircraft variants during his 31-year military career. Behler is a fellow of the

Society of Experimental Test Pilots The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; interchanging ideas, thoughts and suggest ...

, an associate fellow of the

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is a professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA is the U.S. representative on the International Astronautical Federation and the International Council of ...

, and a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and

Air Force Association The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional military association for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, its declared mission is "t ...

. He is the recipient of various Distinguished Service Medals.

Director of Operational Test and Evaluation

On September 5, 2017, Behler was nominated by President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of ...

to become

at the

. His nomination was seen "as a nod to the increasingly critical and complex role software and cybersecurity plays in U.S. defense systems." At his confirmation hearing, Behler said he would seek to speed up Department of Defense acquisition efforts and focus on software development and prototyping new weapons systems. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate November 16, 2017, and took office on December 11, 2017. Behler's term as DOT&E ended on January 20, 2021.

References

External links

Biography at U.S. Air Force

Biography at Software Engineering Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Behler, Robert Living people University of Oklahoma alumni U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni American test pilots United States Air Force generals Trump administration personnel Year of birth missing (living people)