Sue C. Payton

Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force/Acquisition Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense/Acting Director Defense Research and Engineering; President – SCI Aerospace Inc.

Sue C. Payton – change agent, acquisition expert, innovative industry leader and public servant- has over 27 years of continued success working in senior industry and government positions with military services, defense agencies, coalition partners, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Intelligence Community, Congress, Universities and the media. As the former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, in both Republican and Democrat Administrations, Ms. Payton was responsible for all Air Force research, development and acquisition activities. She provided strategy, direction, guidance and oversight of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. Ms Payton directed a $30 billion annual investment that included major weapon systems such as unmanned air vehicles, mobility, ISR and fighter aircraft, and munitions, as well as, capability areas such as alternative fuels, information technology, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. During her tenure with Lockheed Martin and Martin Marietta, Ms. Payton was responsible for leveraging the latest information technology needs of DOD and the Intelligence Community and she resolved complex space system acquisition and technical issues. She has extensive experience leading government and industry partnerships focused on maturing and applying technology, operations concepts, tactics, techniques and procedures to solve national security problems worldwide.
Ms. Payton is widely recognized for acquisition leadership with appearances on 60 Minutes and CSPAN. Her program achievements are the subject of numerous articles including Aviation Week, Defense Daily, Defense News, Inside the Air Force and Air Force Magazine. She is a member of the Air Force Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Purdue University President’s Council, and the Air Force Academy Sabre Society.

She is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, University of Southern California and Nova Southeastern University with Masters Degrees in Systems Acquisition Management and Computer Information Systems. Her numerous achievements include:
* American Institute or Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow * Department of Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award * Eastern Illinois University Honorary PhD in Public Service * Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service