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Evan Dertien

Evan Dertien is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Small Business Consulting Corporation. He is an engineer and test pilot who is passionate about leveraging technology to solve problems and create new capabilities. SBCC focuses on aligning partners to create a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs, industry, small businesses, startups, and capital intersect to spark innovation and create investment in technologies, services, products, or processes that enable the US military to better defend the nation.

Prior to joining SBCC, Evan served for 32 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Major General. In his final assignment, he served as the Commander of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Air Force Test Center executes 800+ test programs utilizing anannual budget of $2 billion, $42 billion of specialized infrastructure, and over 19,000 personnel across 30 sites. As Commander, Evan was responsible for the development, testing and evaluation of air, space, and cyber capabilities including new aircraft, weapons, artificial intelligence, hypersonic systems, datalinks, cyber systems, and many other emerging technologies.

Evan was commissioned in 1993 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, earned a M.S in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a M.S. in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School. In addition, Evan attended numerous professional and continuing education courses including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Artificial Intelligence Course and John Hopkins University’s Leading Data and AI-Enable Organizations. He is also Defense Acquisition University certified in Program Management, Engineering & Technical Management, and Test & Evaluation.

Evan was a Distinguished Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School and served as a fighter pilot and test pilot accumulating over 3,300 flying hours in more than 50 different aircraft types. He served in a variety of flying and staff assignments including command at the squadron level and three Test Wing commands. He also served as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory and as Director, HQ AFMC A/3/6, Air, Space, and Cyber Operations.