Christopher Ristich

Director, Integrated Capabilities Directorate US Air Force Research Laboratory

Mr. Christopher J. Ristich, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director, Integrated Capabilities Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This office includes the Strategic Development Planning & Experimentation (SDPE) office, the Transformational Capabilities Office (TCO), the Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI), and an Architecture office which are collectively responsible for facilitating Air Staff-sponsored development planning activities; experimentation campaigns; multi-domain modeling, simulation and analysis; addressing urgent warfighter needs; designing and integrating DAF architectures; and for implementing the transformational component of the Air Force Science and Technology Strategy, including managing the Department of the Air Force's Vanguard programs. Prior to his current assignments in the Integrated Capabilities Directorate, Mr. Ristich served as Technical Director of the AFRL Plans and Programs Directorate. There, he was responsible for establishing and shaping new engagements with the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, and commanders of the Air Force major commands to integrate science and technology into Air Force corporate processes. Mr. Ristich has held numerous technical and leadership positions. As a subject matter expert in directed energy effects, he led counter-precision guided munitions red-team efforts that provided critical vulnerability insights for Air Force senior leadership. Through a series of management and technical leadership positions in AFRL, Mr. Ristich supported projects and special initiatives including Space Capabilities Protection, Directed Energy Task Force, and the OSD Software Protection Initiative. His multi-domain experience led to his selection as Chief of the Layered Sensing Exploitation Division. Mr. Ristich’s career includes more than 30 years of experience in research, development and test and evaluation of Air Force, Army, Navy