Lt Col Hiren Patel

Lieutenant Colonel Hiren Patel is an instructor of Data Science and Systems Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), School of Systems and Logistics, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. He teaches Program Protection Planning, Digital Acquisition and Data Science for both Air Force and Space Force scientists, engineers, and project managers. He is responsible for the development and delivery of lessons, exercises, and assessments covering the DoD software and systems engineering processes. 

Lt Col Patel commissioned into the Air Force in February 2005 from Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He has held a variety of assignments to include F-16 and B-52 test engineering, Edwards AFB, CA, Developmental Engineer, Program Manager and Branch Chief at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors and Information Directorates, Assistant Director of Operations at the 7th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Meade, MD, Chief of Operations at the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, MD, and Chief of Faculty Pipeline Programs at the AFIT Civilian Institution Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.  He deployed in 2016 in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support, serving on the Commander’s Action Group for the AFCENT commander, Doha, Qatar.  He is a distinguished graduate from the AFIT Masters Program in Electrical Engineering, and attained his PhD in Computer Engineering from AFIT in 2014.   

In his previous assignment, Lt Col Patel served as Chief of Faculty Pipeline Programs as the AFIT Civilian Institute Directorate, where he led 268 Air Force officers across 84 locations through their advanced academic programs.  He guided students through all phases of their programs, maintained discipline and accountability, and tackled numerous personnel emergencies for geographically separated Airmen.  Prior to that he served as Chief of Operations at various organizational levels at the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, MD.  There he directed 250 intelligence and cyber experts on over 15 operations against nation state adversaries, forged partnerships with national level intelligence, defense and law enforcement agencies to find and report threats to the commercial and defense industry.  Concurrently, he served as the Assistance Director of Operations for the 7th Intelligence Squadron (7IS), leading 120 Airmen over 2 flights.  He served as the 7IS innovation and strategy focal point, partnering with the Defense Innovation Unit, AFWERx, KesselRun and others to secure innovative solutions for existing needs.  He also crafted a five year squadron strategy to better integrate the squadron’s 14 flights and 600 Airmen.   

EDUCATION  

2003 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago  
2005 Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2009 Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (Distinguished Graduate) 
2014 Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB 

ASSIGNMENTS 

1. February 2005-August 2007, Project Engineer, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, CA 

2. August 2007-February 2009, Masters Student, AFIT, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 

3. February 2009-August 2011, Project Manager, AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 

4. August 2011-August 2014, PhD Student, AFIT, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 

5. August 2014-September 2017, Branch Chief and Program Manager, AFRL Information Directorate, Rome NY 

6. September 2017-August 2020, Chief of Operations, NSA, Fort George Meade MD, and Assistant Director of Operations, 70th ISR Wing, Fort Meade, MD  

7. August 2020-July 2022, Chief of Faculty Pipeline Programs, Civilian Institution Directorate, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 

8. July 2022-Present, Instructor, School of Systems and Logistics, AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 
Defense Meritorious Service Medal  

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster 

Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster 

Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster  

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 
Second Lieutenant 18 February 2005 
First Lieutenant 18 February 2007 
Captain 18 February 2009 
Major 01 July 2015 
Lieutenant Colonel 01 December 2019 

(Current as of October 2023)