David M. Van Buren
Encyclopedia
David M. Van Buren has been the Acting United States
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
since April 2009.
in physical science
in 1971. After college, he joined the United States Air Force
as an officer, serving there until 1981. While serving in the Air Force, he earned a master's degree
in industrial management from Central Michigan University
in 1975. He also studied industry at the Air Force Institute of Technology
in 1977.
Van Buren left the Air Force in 1981, joining the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
in Sunnyvale, California
as a project manager. In 1983, he left for the Northrop Corporation
in Pico Rivera, California
, where he became Engineering Manager and Deputy Program Manager for the B-2 bomber. In 1987, he attended the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
and was promoted to Vice President and Deputy Program Manager. From April 2009 to November 2010, he was Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
. In November 2010, he became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, though he continued to perform the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) until a new Assistant Secretary is named.
Van Buren left Northrop in 1992 to become CEO of the TECSTAR Corporation in Industry, California
. In 2000, he moved to Andover, Massachusetts
to become President of Raytheon
Microelectrics' Commercial Electronics Group. He then spent 2001 to 2004 working as CEO of various private equity
firms in Sudbury, Massachusetts
and Blackhawk, California
. In 2004, he moved to Honolulu to become CEO of Novasol Inc.
Van Buren joined the United States Department of the Air Force in March 2008, when he became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Management.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force....
since April 2009.
Biography
David M. Van Buren was educated at the University of Illinois, receiving a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in physical science
Physical science
Physical science is an encompassing term for the branches of natural science and science that study non-living systems, in contrast to the life sciences...
in 1971. After college, he joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as an officer, serving there until 1981. While serving in the Air Force, he earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in industrial management from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in 1975. He also studied industry at the Air Force Institute of Technology
Air Force Institute of Technology
The Air Force Institute of Technology is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education that is part of the United States Air Force. It is located on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A component of Air University and Air Education and Training Command, AFIT has been...
in 1977.
Van Buren left the Air Force in 1981, joining the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company was a unit of the Lockheed Corporation "Missiles, Space, and Electronics Systems Group." LMSC was started by Willis Hawkins who served as its president...
in Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
as a project manager. In 1983, he left for the Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
in Pico Rivera, California
Pico Rivera, California
Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is situated approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley...
, where he became Engineering Manager and Deputy Program Manager for the B-2 bomber. In 1987, he attended the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
and was promoted to Vice President and Deputy Program Manager. From April 2009 to November 2010, he was Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force....
. In November 2010, he became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, though he continued to perform the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) until a new Assistant Secretary is named.
Van Buren left Northrop in 1992 to become CEO of the TECSTAR Corporation in Industry, California
Industry, California
Industry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial...
. In 2000, he moved to Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
to become President of Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
Microelectrics' Commercial Electronics Group. He then spent 2001 to 2004 working as CEO of various private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firms in Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
and Blackhawk, California
Blackhawk, California
Blackhawk is an unincorporated master planned community and census-designated place located in Contra Costa County, California, east of Danville and Oakland. The ZIP Code is 94506. The community is inside area code 925.-Blackhawk Ranch, 1917 to 1979:...
. In 2004, he moved to Honolulu to become CEO of Novasol Inc.
Van Buren joined the United States Department of the Air Force in March 2008, when he became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Management.