Admiral Steven R. Tedford, U.S. Navy
Rear Admiral Stephen Tedford is a native of Huntington, New York. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering after graduating from the United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) Cooperative Program at the Naval Postgraduate School. He received his commission as Ensign through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1993.

Tedford has accumulated more than 3,100 flight hours in 40 different aircraft. He served operationally with the Golden Eagles of Patrol Squadron 9, located at Barbers Point, Hawaii, and the Golden Swordsmen of Patrol Squadron 47, in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during which time he deployed to Diego Garcia; Misawa, Japan; and Bahrain. He also deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet where he executed 250 combat flight hours in support of Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.

During ashore tours, Tedford served as a test pilot at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty (VX 20) in Patuxent River, Maryland, for the P-3C, C-12 Huron, and T-34C Mentor and as an instructor at USNTPS for the P-3C, U-21 Ute, T-38A Talon, and T-2C Buckeye. He served two tours with Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office (PMA 290) at Naval Air Systems Command, as P-3C weapons class desk and as P-3 sustainment integrated product team lead responsible for the complete structural sustainment of 172 P-3/EP-3 aircraft and the execution of a S1.5B budget. He served as chief test pilot (CTP) and commanding officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX 30) in Point Mugu, California. The squadron, under his command, completed more than 13,000 flight hours in the P-3C, C-130 Hercules, and S-3B Viking aircraft, while executing a $25M annual budget. This tour culminated with VX 30?€™s selection for the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award.

His acquisition tours include Deputy Program Manager with PMA 251 for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system on the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78); followed by command of PMA 251 as the Program Manager; and as Vice Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. He then served as Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force from August 2019 to May 2022. In May of 2022, Tedford assumed command as the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards; one with Combat Valor), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two), and numerous other unit and service awards.

RDML Tedford is married to the former Ms. Kathryn Garber of Corvallis, OR. They have two daughters: Katelyn and Caroline.