As part of the Science and Technology Division in the J8 Resources and Assessments Directorate, Dr. Mike von Fahnestock is the Pacific Command coordinator for S&T projects related to Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), Advanced Manufacturing, Operational Energy and tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs). He currently is leading the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command biosurveillance system development with the Command Surgeon’s Office and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Office for Nuclear deterrence and CBRN Defense. Prior to his current assignment, Dr. von Fahnestock served five years on active duty as an Army Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel with both Pacific Command in the S&T Office and the Army Human Resources Command as the Operations Officer for The Adjutant General. Prior to this latest service activation, Dr. von Fahnestock worked at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, OH, as a program manager and process design engineer, specializing in environmental process design technologies, bioprocessing and as manager of the Energy and Environment Global Business Unit Internal R&D Program. With 30 years at Battelle, Dr. von Fahnestock has held positions in the research, line management and program management tracts, including manager of Battelle’s Hazardous Materials Research Center. He managed numerous environmental restoration projects, technology demonstrations and chemical-biological research and development efforts.
A career Army Reserve Chemical Officer with 10 years of active and 20 years of reserve service, COL(Ret) von Fahnestock predominantly worked under the U.S. Army Research and Development Command (RDECOM) in several capacities, ranging from Executive Officer at Pueblo Chemical Depot to Deputy Test Director in the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center Engineering Directorate. He rounded out his 30-year military career as Senior Research Engineer with RDECOM Detachment 8 Reserve Unit in support of RDECOM Forward Element, Pacific.
Dr. von Fahnestock earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Ohio State University where he also obtained his M.S. in Chemical Engineering. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he also completed one year at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, Lyon, France. Most recently, he earned his Executive MBA from University of Hawaii’s Shidler College of Business. His military education includes Intermediate Leadership Education Course, the Fundamentals of Acquisition 51 Course, Combined Arms Staff Services School, and the Chemical Officer Advanced and Basic Courses. Dr. von Fahnestock is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Project Management Professional and member of the Army Acquisition Corps with Level III Engineering Certification. He holds four patents and has won two R&D 100 Awards and an Army Lean Six Sigma Enterprise Award.