Robert "Blend'r" Novotny

Robert Novotny is executive director, F-15 Business Development within the Air Dominance Division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He leads Boeing’s customer outreach team for its global F-15 portfolio.

Prior to joining Boeing, Novotny completed a 28-year career in the United States Air Force as a brigadier general and command pilot, amassing more than 3,000 flight hours and 500 combat hours as an F-15C/E instructor fighter pilot. In addition, he flew a variety of other aircraft as a career operational test pilot and has experience piloting helicopters, bombers, airlift and remotely piloted aircraft. Novotny commanded the legendary 48th Fighter Wing, also known as "The Liberty Wing," where he oversaw three counter-ISIS strikes into Africa and successfully recertified the wing for critical NATO wartime operations.

Novotny also served as the chief of staff to the Air Component Coordination Element and deputy chief of staff for Air Operations in Afghanistan leading a Presidentially directed force posture change while supporting ongoing counter-terror operations. He later served as the deputy director of Planning, Programming, Requirements and Analysis for Air Combat Command, leading more than half of the U.S. Air Force’s combat air force portfolio, responsible for planning and programming $60 billion annually for a force of more than 146,000 personnel and 2,800 aircraft, supporting 10 unified commands. He was an initial architect of the Advanced Battle Management System and the Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems requirements. In his final assignment, Novotny led the Air Force’s premier advanced testing and training organization, the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During his command, he oversaw the complete overhaul of Exercise RED FLAG, grew the U.S. Air Force Weapons School by two additional divisions and rebuilt the Thunderbirds demonstration team culminating in the America Strong flybys during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novotny is a distinguished graduate of Undergraduate Pilot Training, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and two other service programs. An experienced F-15C combat aviator, Novotny earned numerous decorations including four Legions of Merit, the Air Force Combat Action medal, seven Air Medals and the Bronze Star. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s School of Advanced Air & Space Studies, the U.S. Naval Command & Staff College and the National War College. He has four master’s degrees spanning public administration, military art and science, national security and strategic studies.