Susan Thornton

Member



 

Ms. Susan Thornton is an Associate with Dayton Aerospace, Inc. and owner of SJT Consulting, LLC in Arlington, Virginia. She focuses on providing innovative solutions, managing risk, optimizing processes, and developing successful strategies for complex weapon systems, software, cyber capability, and advanced technology. She joined the Parallax board in March 2022. 

Ms. Thornton acquired extensive engineering, technology, acquisition, and program management expertise in her over 38 years in as a civilian in the Air Force, including 13 years as a member of the Senior Executive Service. From January 2016 through May 2020, she was Director for Information Dominance Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She was responsible for planning and programming all acquisition and modernization activities for Air Force command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs. She guided development of acquisition strategies, budget submissions, and congressional testimony. She also served as Chair, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Air Forces Armament Group, leading 30 nations to deliver capability to NATO forces and ensure interoperability throughout the Alliance. 

Ms. Thornton began her Air Force career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Throughout her career, she achieved results in a wide variety of engineering and leadership positions for the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency.  Ms. Thornton was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in January 2007 as Director, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. Her other senior executive roles include Director of Engineering, Electronic System Center and Director of Engineering and Technical Management, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. 

Ms. Thornton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering from Wright State University and her Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree at the Harvard Kennedy School where she was named a 1998 Lucius N. Littauer Fellow for academic excellence, leadership, and community impact. 

Susan Thornton
 



 

Ms. Susan Thornton is an Associate with Dayton Aerospace, Inc. and owner of SJT Consulting, LLC in Arlington, Virginia. She focuses on providing innovative solutions, managing risk, optimizing processes, and developing successful strategies for complex weapon systems, software, cyber capability, and advanced technology. She joined the Parallax board in March 2022. 

Ms. Thornton acquired extensive engineering, technology, acquisition, and program management expertise in her over 38 years in as a civilian in the Air Force, including 13 years as a member of the Senior Executive Service. From January 2016 through May 2020, she was Director for Information Dominance Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She was responsible for planning and programming all acquisition and modernization activities for Air Force command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs. She guided development of acquisition strategies, budget submissions, and congressional testimony. She also served as Chair, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Air Forces Armament Group, leading 30 nations to deliver capability to NATO forces and ensure interoperability throughout the Alliance. 

Ms. Thornton began her Air Force career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Throughout her career, she achieved results in a wide variety of engineering and leadership positions for the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency.  Ms. Thornton was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in January 2007 as Director, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. Her other senior executive roles include Director of Engineering, Electronic System Center and Director of Engineering and Technical Management, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. 

Ms. Thornton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering from Wright State University and her Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree at the Harvard Kennedy School where she was named a 1998 Lucius N. Littauer Fellow for academic excellence, leadership, and community impact.