Cyber Innovation Center has announced the appointments of Russell Mathers and William Weiford as STRIKEWERX director and deputy director, respectively.
CIC said Monday that Mathers will continue to advance its technology transfer and transition efforts as the partner of the Air Force Global Strike Command’s Office of the Chief Scientist. Meanwhile, Weiford will take over from Mathers’ previous role of leading new STRIKEWERX projects. (STRIKEWERX is an Air Force innovation arm.)
Particularly, Weiford will support the center’s mission of developing innovative capabilities for U.S. warfighters and building up the U.S. Air Force nuclear enterprise.
Equipping US Warfighters With Innovative Capabilities
According to CIC President Kevin Nolten, Mathers displayed leadership, expertise and excellence since joining the organization in 2020. Nolten added that the new STRIKEWERX chief played a critical role in projects and design sprints that “delivered nearly $300 million in savings to the U.S. Air Force.”
Commenting on his promotion, Mathers noted, “I am especially excited to continue delivering results and savings for the U.S. Air Force, ensuring we provide innovative and cost-effective solutions that enhance mission success.”
STRIKEWERX Leaders’ Career Highlights
Serving for nearly three decades at USAF, Mathers retired as the Eighth Air Force’s commander. He was also an executive director at AFGSC/A6 and the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Center. The former USAF pilot earned a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan.
A 24-year Air Force veteran, Weiford served at the military branch’s major command levels and performed various staff duties related to the nuclear enterprise. His last assignment was as executive director of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Modernization Directorate at AFGSC.
