Lieutenant Colonel Blythe A. Andrews is the Executive Director, Department of the Air Force, Scientific Advisory Board, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.  She is responsible for the 20-person Secretariat at Headquarters Air Force, which supports over 50 leading scientists and engineers from industry, FFRDCs, national labs, and academia who perform in-depth reviews of science and technology programs as well as conduct major studies on topics deemed critical by the Department of the Air Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrews attended the University of Pittsburgh on an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She previously served as a program manager, deputy branch chief, executive officer, test director, and instructor. In 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Andrews deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  She was selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2010 where she earned a Master of Science Degree in 2012.  She was also selected to attend Utah State University where she earned her PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 2017.  Prior to her current assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Andrews served as an Assistant Professor of Astronautics at the United States Air Force Academy.

EDUCATION

2006 Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2012 Master of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH
2017 Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT
2019 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

ASSIGNMENTS

1. June 2006 – June 2007, Rocket Propulsion Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
2. June 2007 – June 2008, Deputy Chief, Engines Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
3. June 2008 – June 2009, Deputy Test Director, National Hover Test Facility, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
4. June 2009 – August 2010, Test Director, National Hover Test Facility, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA
5. November 2009-May 2010, Operations Officer, Defense Contract Management Agency Northern Iraq, Iraq
6. August 2010 – April 2012, Graduate Student, U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
7. April 2012 – June 2013, Instructor of Astronautics, Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy, CO
8. June 2013 – August 2014, Executive Officer and Instructor of Astronautics, Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy, CO
9. August 2014 – June 2017, Graduate Student, Utah State University, Logan, UT
10. June 2017- July 2018, Deputy Branch Chief, Logistics Readiness Branch, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, AL
11. July 2018 – July 2019, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
12. July 2019 – June 2022, Assistant Professor of Astronautics, Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy, CO
13. June 2022 – Present, Executive Director, Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

PROFESIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION

Air and Space Basic Course – Residence, 2006 Squadron Officer School – Residence, 2014
Air Command and Staff College – Distance Learning
Air Command and Staff College, Master of Military Operational Art and Science – Residence, 2019

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal 
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star 
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant May 31, 2006
First Lieutenant May 31, 2008
Captain May 31, 2010
Major October 1, 2016 
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2021