Major General Donald K. Carpenter

Maj. Gen. Donald K. Carpenter is the Director, Lightning Sustainment Center, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio leads a staff of nearly 400 personnel in six divisions representing US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, seven international partners and five industry contractors in support of operational and programmatic planning processes to deliver sustainment logistics and engineering expertise to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. He provides leadership and direction supporting the three US Services, seven partner nations, and nine Foreign Military Sales (FMS) countries in sustaining more than 950 Joint Strike Fighters and the planning/integration of more than 1,200 additional aircraft by 2027. Within the construct of the LSC, he manages a budget exceeding five billion dollars annually and leads the F-35 Global Fleet Support Operations Center in providing 24/7 sustainment support and response to 39 operational units worldwide.

General Carpenter’s military service began in 1983 enlisting as a Jet Engine Mechanic in the U.S. Navy. During his second active tour, he completed his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University in Aviation Management in May of 1990. In April 1991 he enlisted in the Air National Guard as an F-16 Jet engine mechanic, topping out his enlisted career as a C-130 Flight Engineer Master Sergeant. February of 1997, General Carpenter graduated as a distinguished graduate from the Academy of Military Science, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base receiving his commission as an Intelligence officer. General Carpenter has deployed to Europe and Southwest Asia multiple times in support of contingency operations, and he served as the senior military officer in charge of C-130 maintenance training for the Polish Air Force. General Carpenter is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, who contributes countless hours to innovation, process improvement and leadership development in both the Air and Army National Guard.

He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing level. Prior to his current position, he served as Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, National Guard Bureau, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.