About
Randy "Laz" Gordon is a retired senior commander and experimental test pilot with advanced degrees in strategy, aeronautical engineering, and systems engineering who has led developmental flight testing of multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft platforms and served in leadership roles overseeing innovation and advanced technology programs for the Department of Defense. His career includes command of the F-22 Combined Test Force, direction of the USAF/MIT Artificial Intelligence Technology Accelerator, and oversight of a $2.5 billion portfolio of advanced technology initiatives for U.S. Pacific Command. He currently serves as a board advisor and aerospace consultant for venture capital and corporate clients and holds fellowships from Harvard Business School, MIT, and DARPA.
Experience
- MultipleVenture Capital Firm Board Advisor and Aerospace Consultantcurrent2024 — present
- Presidential Leadership ScholarsPresidential Fellow, Social Entrepreneurcurrent2016 — present
- United States Air ForceCommander, Arnold Engineering Development Complex2022 — 2024Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States
- United States Air Force412th Test Wing Vice Commander - Edwards Air Force Base2020 — 2022Edwards Air Force Base California
- United States Air ForceDirector - USAF/MIT Artificial Intelligence Technology Accelerator2019 — 2020Cambridge MA
- AFWERXStrategic Initiatives Director / Test & Evaluation Lead2018 — 2020
- United States Air ForceAir Force Fellows Program - Harvard Business School, MIT, & MIT Lincoln Labs2017 — 2018Cambridge, MA
- United States Air ForceF-22A Raptor Combined Test Force Director / Commander / Director of Flight Operations / Test Pilot2014 — 2017Edwards AFB CA
- US Pacific CommandChief of Future Technology Capabilities / Joint Innovation and Experimentation Strategist2011 — 2014Honolulu HI
- DARPADARPA Fellow for the US Air Force Chief of Staff2012 — 2014Arlington VA
- United States Air ForceF-15C/E, A-10A/C, and Bombardier BD-700 Global Express Test Pilot / Combat Fighter Pilot2000 — 2011Various Locations
- Flying MagazineFreelance Writer Flying Magazine2008 — 2010
- Smithsonian InstitutionFreelance Writer Air and Space Smithsonian2007 — 2009Washington D.C. Metro Area
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolExecutive Education, HBS Alumnus - PLDA (Conferred Summer 2018)2017 — 2018
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyFellow, Disruptive Technology Innovation & Business Entrepreneurship2017 — 2018
- United States Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS)Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), Strategy2011 — 2013
- United States Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS)Masters of Philosophy, Strategy2010 — 2011
- U.S. Air Force Institute of TechnologyMasters of Science, Aeronautical Engineering2004 — 2006
- United States Air Force AcademyBachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering1994 — 1998
- University of Hawaii at ManoaPhotography2013
Skills & more
Airline Transport Pilot2Photography14C-Level Presentations4DoD61Piloting20Military Operations33Command12Aerospace9Military59Operational Planning11Flight Test12Air Force61
+12 more
Electronic WarfareSpecial OperationsAircraftProgram ManagementNational SecurityDefenseAviationMilitary ExperienceUSAF PhD FellowBD-700 Type RatingF-15E, F-15C, A-10C Test PilotFreelance Aviation WriterLanguages English · French · Russian
- Chief Developmental Tester / Key Leadership Position — Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
- Asia Pacific Fellow — Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies
- Commercial Pilot (Multi-Engine & Sailplane) — Federal Aviation Administration
- Certified Flight Instructor Instrument — Federal Aviation Administration
- Airline Transport Pilot — Federal Aviation Administration
- Acquisition Professional Developmental Program Test Level III — Defense Acquisition University
From Randy's professional profile.
Colleagues at OUTPOST VENTURES
Alex Wagner
Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
Alexandra Shah
Managing Partner at OUTPOST VENTURES
Angela Donahoo
Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
Austin DeLorme
Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
Ben Strub
CFO at OUTPOST VENTURES
Brody Ferris
Operations Technical Lead at OUTPOST VENTURES
Chris Spinelli
Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
Dave Harden
Founder and Managing Partner at OUTPOST VENTURES
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Randy "Laz" Gordon work?
- Randy "Laz" Gordon is Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School1,969
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins
+ 1,963 more
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,281
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,275 more
Also attended U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology4
Also attended United States Air Force Academy45
Patrick HenshawManaging Director at Render CapitalLeSean BrownAssociate at Context VenturesCamden SnowdenAssociate at Context VenturesSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital AdvisorsIan BalserAnalyst at Tech Square Ventures
+ 39 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Presidential Leadership Scholars8
Zach PosnerManaging Partner & Co-Founder at LegalTechMaggie SprengerCo-Founder & General Partner at Audere CapitalIan EishenVenture Partner at Audere CapitalJohn ColemanCo-CEO and Board Member at Sovereigns Capital VentureNanxi LiuCo-Founder & CEO, Blaze at xfactor venturesJesse SullivanFounder and Partner at Alter Global
+ 2 more
Also worked at United States Air Force91
Dave MunichielloInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Ross Perot Jr.Chairman of The Perot Group at Perot JainNathaniel HardingManaging Partner at Cortado VenturesKevin MandiaGeneral Partner at Ballistic VenturesTidal McCoyChairman at IronGate Capital AdvisorsSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital Advisors
+ 85 more
