Lieutenant Colonel Nathan E. Padgett entered the Air Force in May 2005. After pilot training, he flew the C-17A operationally and earned airdrop instructor, Weapons Officer, and Formal Training Unit evaluator qualifications. Lt Col Padgett’s staff assignments include the 618th Air Operations Center, United States Special Operations Command, and the Air Staff. Before coming to MIT, Lt Col Padgett served as the Senior Executive Officer for the Director of Staff, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He previously commanded the 60th Operations Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts in Homeland Security from the American Military University, a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.