The commander of Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is responsible for managing the Air Force's science and technology program as well as additional customer funded research and development. The commander is also responsible for a workforce of approximately 10,800 people in the laboratory's component technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the 711th Human Performance Wing.
Below is a list of commanders of Air Force Research Laboratory and the terms in office.
| Photo | Name | Term start | Term end | Term length | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major General Richard R. Paul[1] | Apr 1997 | 2000 | ||||
| 2 | Major General Paul D. Nielsen | Apr 2000 | 2004 | ||||
| 3 | Major General Perry L. Lamy | Jun 2004 | Nov 2005 | ||||
| 4 | Major General Ted F. Bowlds | January 2006 | November 2007 | ||||
| 5 | Major General Curtis M. Bedke | Oct 2007 | Feb 2010 | ||||
| 6 | Major General Ellen M. Pawlikowski | February 12, 2010 | May 2011 | ||||
| 7 | Major General Neil McCasland | May 2011 | July 2013 | ||||
| 8 | Major General Thomas J. Masiello | July 29, 2013 | May 2016 | ||||
| 9 | Major General Robert D. McMurry Jr.[2] | May 2016 | May 2, 2017 | ||||
| 10 | Major General William T. Cooley[3] | May 2, 2017 | January 15, 2020 | ||||
| 11 | Brigadier General Evan Dertien[4] | January 15, 2020 | June 18, 2020 | ||||
| 12 | Major General Heather L. Pringle[5] | June 18, 2020 | June 5, 2023 | ||||
| 13 | Major General Scott A. Cain | June 5, 2023 | July 10, 2024 | ||||
| 14 | Brigadier General Jason E. Bartolomei | July 10, 2024[6] | Incumbent | ||||