Don “Dozer” Borchelt

Don Borchelt is assigned to Collins Aerospace Government Programs as the Director of ACES 5 Business Development. Mr. Borchelt joined the former Rockwell Collins Corporation in June 2018 as Program Manager of Military Avionics focusing on fighter and trainer systems integration. He is based in the company’s Colorado Springs, CO office. In his current role, Don leads and implements business capture strategies to develop, test, and field the ACES 5 ejection seat to reduce ejection risks for fighter, bomber, and trainer aircrew in the US and internationally. Don retired from the Air Force in 2018 where he was assigned as the 1st FW Vice Commander. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma as well as a Master’s of Strategic Studies from Air University. After two tours as a Public Affairs officer, Don spent the bulk of his career flying the F-15C. His five Eagle flying tours included three operational, one training with the world-famous 95th Fighter Squadron, “Home of Mr. Bones,” and one with the 65th Aggressors at Nellis AFB, NV. His staff assignments included Advanced Programs, Special Technical Operations (STO) Chief, and he was twice Director of Flight Safety at the Major Command level. It was in his Flight Safety roles that Don became even more passionate about the imperative to provide aircrew with the safest, best-performing ejection seat possible. He has 2000 flight hours and over 100 combat hours.