Gerald Goodfellow

Co-Founder

Gerald Goodfellow, Brigadier General (retired) US Air Force. Prior to co-founding the Southeast Innovation Institute, Goodfellow served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Tech Research Institute and the Director of Technology Innovation at Louisiana Tech University.

Goodfellow is a 30-year Air Force Veteran who, in his last active duty military job, served as the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command located at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In this position he was responsible for strategic planning, and for resourcing the nation's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile force, B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, UH-1N helicopters, the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center Aircraft, and Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) systems.

Goodfellow has earned three Masters degrees. A Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a Masters of Military Operational Art and Science from the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, and a Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he is a graduate of numerous executive education programs to include: the Capstone General and Flag Officer Course at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., the Public Policy Seminar at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., the Leadership Enhancement Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C., and the Enterprise Leadership Seminar at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Goodfellow spent much of his career educating and training military members and civilians. He served as a professor of strategy and planning at the U.S. Army War College where he instructed Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Officers, as well as senior U.S. Government Civilians. He’s also served as the Commander and Commandant, at the United States Air Force Squadron Officer College. As a Brigadier General he served as the Director of the Nuclear Enterprise at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), where he oversaw many aspects of the Nation’s Nuclear force, to include the Defense Nuclear Weapons School, which teaches over 170 courses to approximately 30,000 military members and security-cleared civilians each year. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS), which is located on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. WOS is dedicated to developing the skills of untapped talent from underserved communities through partnerships with organizations committed to diversifying their workforce.

Goodfellow has vast experience educating and training military members for nuclear and conventional warfare. He served as a B-1 Bomber Operations Group Commander where he directed the education, development, and training required of B-1 Bomber Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers to fly combat missions throughout the world. As a Wing Commander, he directed the education, training, and qualification of United States Air Force Instructor Pilots, future Fighter Pilots, Combat Systems Officers, and Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilots and Sensor Operators. Additionally, he was in charge of all flying and parachute training at the United States Air Force Academy.

Goodfellow is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat. For the same combat mission, he also received the General Ira C. Eaker Award for the “Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship.” He also holds the World-Record for the “Fastest Non-stop Flight Around-the-World,” which he flew in a B-1 Bomber. For this World-Record flight, he was awarded the Air Force’s top aerial achievement award, the Mackay Trophy, which is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., for the “Most Meritorious Aerial Flight of the Year.”