Find your path to Randy
854 people in our graph share verified history with Randy — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Noubar AfeyanunlockedRandy: together at Harvard Business School (2018)
×6Randy: together at Harvard Business School
×2Randy: together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Randy: together at United States Air Force
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
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
Cedric Drui
General Partner at OUTPOST VENTURES
Chris Spinelli
Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Randy "Laz" Gordon?
- 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.
- Where does Randy "Laz" Gordon work?
- Randy "Laz" Gordon is Advisor at OUTPOST VENTURES.
- Where did Randy "Laz" Gordon go to school?
- Randy "Laz" Gordon studied at Harvard Business School (Executive Education, HBS Alumnus - PLDA (Conferred Summer 2018)); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Fellow, Disruptive Technology Innovation & Business Entrepreneurship); United States Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) (Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), Strategy).
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen 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
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology2,000
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 CatalystPhilippe LaffontFounder & CIO of Coatue ManagementNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG
+ 1,994 more
Also attended U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology7
Brian HibbelnVenture Partner at SINEWAVE VENTURESDerren BurrellFounder and President at Veteran Ventures CapitalChris O'ConnorPartner at NATO Innovation FundNed SandlinOperating Partner at Red Arts CapitalVince ReynaSenior Principal, Co-Chief Investment Officer at PennybackerDANIEL ROSENRAUCHExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter at Viirtue, Inc
+ 1 more
Also attended United States Air Force Academy73
John MartinsonFounder at Martinson VenturesPatrick HenshawManaging Director at Render CapitalLeSean BrownAssociate at Context VenturesSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital AdvisorsIan BalserAnalyst at Tech Square Ventures
+ 67 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Presidential Leadership Scholars18
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
+ 12 more
Also worked at United States Air Force134
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 AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital Advisors
+ 128 more
