Center for Strategy and Technology Fellows
Lt Col Patrick Highland “Dice”
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Highland is a graduated Flight Test Squadron Commander, PhD, and an Experimental Test Pilot with over 18 years of service in the USAF, serving in various roles including Acquisition, Test, Special Operations Forces, Combat Air Forces, and Mobility Air Forces. Lieutenant Colonel Highland earned five engineering degrees across the fields of electrical engineering, flight test engineering, and industrial engineering, including a PhD in industrial engineering from the University of Iowa in 2022. After commissioning and pilot training in 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Highland served seven years at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in varying assignments culminating as a special missions reconnaissance evaluator pilot. Lieutenant Colonel Highland was then selected to attend the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Following his graduation from the Test Pilot School in 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Highland served in varying assignments as an Experimental Test Pilot. Lieutenant Colonel Highland has 3300 hours in 52 different aircraft, including 289 combat hours. Lieutenant Colonel Highland enjoys and contributes to research that enhances the Warfighter capabilities in all domains, but also enjoys occasionally focusing on human trust of autonomy during high-risk situations. In his off time, Dice enjoys the outdoors and homebrewing beer, wine, and cider.
Maj Matthew Anderson
Maj Matthew Anderson is a Special Operations Pilot with over 1,500 flight hours in multiple Non-Standard Aviation platforms across Central and South America, Africa, and advisory missions in Afghanistan and the Philippines. Often serving as the sole American onboard the aircraft, he has worked closely with partner-nation air forces conducting mobility and ISR missions. Most recently, he stood up the Theater Air Operations Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, where he served as the squadron Operations Officer, responsible for matching Air Force Special Operations capabilities with Joint Force requirements and leading operations to put those capabilities into action. Originally from Colorado, Maj Anderson enjoys rock climbing and competitive shooting. His wife, a mental health therapist with a doctorate in psychology, is currently traveling the world for the year with their eight-year-old daughter.
Maj Anthony Brothersen “JAWS”
Major Anthony Brothersen is a Senior Pilot with over 1800 hours in the F15E and F35. He was most recently assigned with Operational Test at the 422 Test Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB where he served in a variety of roles to include leading exercise Black Flag and 53d Wing Weapons. Maj Brothersen earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and is also a graduate of the USAF Weapons School. He is married to his wife Marissa and enjoys spending time with their daughter (1).
Maj Scott Dold “Golden”
Major Scott Dold is a Developmental Engineer with 12 of service in the U.S. Air Force. As a Test Pilot School graduate, he has served in various flight test roles testing a wide variety of military aircraft, most notably the F-35, E-3, and Tornado of the German Air Force. Prior to commissioning through Officer Training School, Maj Dold earned his BS in Aerospace Engineering at Wichita State University and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado. He is married to his wife, Andrea, and they have two children together. In his free time he enjoys hiking and mastering every board sport in existence.
Maj Eric Kenney “Slick”
Major Eric Kenney is an Offensive Cyberspace Operations Weapons Officer with over 1,000 operational hours supporting Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) and USEUCOM. Most recently, he served as Director of Operations at the 57th Information Aggressor Squadron, emulating adversary capabilities against blue exercise players and conducting cyber assessments of weapon systems. Previously, he served as an instructor and Chief of Cyber Integration in the 32 WPS, Chief of Weapons and Tactics for 315 COS, and Mission Commander/Operator on 800 CMT at the 390 COS. He earned his bachelors degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oregon State University and his masters in Applied Economics from Boston College. Eric is married to Kelsey, and they have two children, Gavin and Nora. The family enjoys board games, playing with the kids, and watching football together.
Maj Paden Allen “FLIPS”
Major Paden Allen is a Senior Air Battle Manager with 13 years of service in the US Air Force, spanning time across the E-3B/C/G AWACS, Control & Reporting Center (CRC), and Operational Test. He commissioned from AFROTC at Texas A&M University where he earned a BS in Engineering Technology, and also holds a Master of Civil Engineering in Structural Engineering from Norwich University and is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School. Maj Allen is married to his ever-patient wife and daddy to his two agents of chaos (or three if you count the dog). When not in uniform, he can probably be found either playing instruments to entertain his kids or tinkering with radios and computer.
Maj James Oltman “Robin”
Major Jim Oltman is an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with a breadth of experience across the legacy CAF community to include operational time in 4 separate MAJCOMs. His most recent assignment was as the Commander for the 857th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron where he oversaw 412 maintainers and operations for 37 F-16C/D aircraft. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School and has spent two years in the AFMC sustainment enterprise at Hill AFB. He received his undergraduate degree in Professional Selling from Baylor University and his MBA from the University of Arkansas in Operations Management. He is married, has a daughter, and enjoys running, cooking, and reffing soccer in his free time.
Maj Johnny Pak “Chef”
Major Johnny "Chef" Pak is a space operations officer with experience in Satellite Command and Control for multiple Satellite Communications constellations including DSCS, WGS, Milstar, AEHF, UFO, and MUOS. Prior to Blue Horizons, he served as the Director of Operations for the 533d Training Squadron at Vandenberg SFB where he was responsible for the USSF's Initial Skills Training pipeline for all enlisted Guardians. Maj Pak received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the Air Force Weapons School. He's married to his wife, Amy, and enjoys golfing and traveling.
Maj Kathryn Richardson “PUMA”
Major Kathryn Richardson is a Special Operations Senior Pilot with over 2050 flight hours, including 495 combat hours. Her assignments include two operational flying assignments in the MC-130J at Cannon AFB, NM and Hurlburt Field, FL. She earned her commission through ROTC at Baylor University where she studied Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, and holds a Masters degree in International Conflict Resolution. Prior to selection as a Blue Horizons Fellow, Maj Richardson served as the Special Operations Task Group – Central J3 and instructed at the Weapons Instructor Course. Outside of her professional career, Maj Richardson enjoys traveling, flying bush planes, and mountaineering.
Maj Jordan Rutledge “Zorro”
Major Jordan “Zorro” Rutledge is a F-22 senior pilot with recent deployment experience in EUCOM and CENTCOM. He has completed multiple operational flying assignments at Langley AFB, Tyndall AFB, and Hickam AFB. Maj Rutledge received his commission through ROTC at Wright State University in 2012 where he studied Computer Engineering. He is a 2022 graduate of the US Air Force Weapons School. Prior to his current assignment as a Blue Horizons Fellow, Maj Rutledge was one of the 1st Fighter Wing Weapons Officers responsible for preparing the squadrons for deployments, standardized training, and assisting planning for upcoming operations. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys reading fiction, cooking, and traveling with his wife Natasha.
Maj Colton Serilli “DAIN”
Major Colton Serilli is a Logistics Readiness Officer, and has served in numerous positions at the squadron, MAJCOM, and joint levels. Most recently, he served as the Executive Officer to the Commander, Special Operations Command – Africa. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has earned an MBA from Arizona State University and a Masters in International Relations from Troy University. He is married, and he enjoys cycling, cooking, and traveling.
Maj Eric Stubblefield “Hulk”
Major Eric Stubblefield is a test pilot with over 1,500 flight hours in the F-35, F-16, T-7A, and more than 20 other aircraft. His operational experience includes assignments flying the F-16 and F-35, with one deployment to the CENTCOM area of responsibility. He holds master’s degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, where he most recently tested the Air Force’s new jet trainer, the T-7A Redhawk. Major Stubblefield is married to his high school sweetheart, Danielle, and they have two young children. In his free time, he enjoys chasing his kids and competing in triathlons.
Maj Aaron Zarmbinski “ZORO”
Major Aaron Zarmbinski is a B-52 Instructor Pilot with ~1400 flight hours in the B-52, F-16, T-38, and T-6. His career experience includes 3 years in the F-16CM with conventional flight experience in NATO as well as 4 years in the U.S. nuclear enterprise as part of 2d Bomb Wing’s conventional and nuclear missions. Maj Zarmbinski most recently served as the Assistant Director of Operations for Nuclear Training, Programs, and Exercises at the 2d Operations Support Squadron where he also served as the 2d Operations Group liaison for the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) weapon. Maj Zarmbinski holds a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Arlington and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He is married with one daughter and his hobbies include running, woodworking, and charity work through their church.