Ms. Van Dusen distinguished herself by exceptional service to the Army Test and Evaluation community for 43 years from November 1977 through her retirement in April 2021.

Over the course of her service, she had oversight of test team management for 31 systems and over 38 personnel. Ms. Van Dusen developed test methodologies, data collection plans, and addressed design of experiments, while providing input and conducting critical reviews of vital planning documents.

Before she began supporting operational testing at Operational Test Command, her career started in 1975 as a computer programmer for NASA with the Apollo-Soyuz mission, which was the first crewed international space mission carried out jointly by the U.S. and Soviet Union in July 1975. She was also a senior statistician with the U.S. Army Infantry School, and an Operational Research Systems Analyst (ORSA) at the Infantry School's Combat Development Directorate.

From 1991 to 1994, Ms. Van Dusen served as the primary ORSA for critical aviation tests such as the Aircrew Integrated Hehnet System (AIHS), New Training Helicopter (NTH), and a series of tests for two Special Operations Aircraft (SOA) the MH---60K and MH-47F. She was also the primary analyst for the APR-39A (XE-2), Unit Maintenance Aerial Recovery Kit (UMARK), GAU-19; Inflatable Body and Head Restraint System (IBAHRS), and the Suite oflntegrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (SIRFC). From 1995 to 2003, she served as the dedicated ORSA for Task Force XXI, Enhanced Aircrew Integrated Uniform Battlefield Test, Air to Ground Engagement System (AG ES) II AH---64, AG ES Kiowa Warrior, Suite of Integrated Infrared Countermeasures (SIIRCM), CH-47F Improved Cargo Helicopter, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, Comanche Force Development Test and Experimentation, and the UH-60M.  

After her promotion to Deputy Director of the Aviation Test Directorate (AVTD) in 2003, she had a direct impact on new Army Aviation systems and provided a direct, positive impact on the Army Aviation community by mentoring and guiding a new generation of Army Aviation acquisition professionals through 2008. Her influence contributed to Army Aviation with such systems as the Modernized TADS/PNVS (M-TADS), Apache Block III, ER/MP UAS, and the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

In 2008, she was selected to serve as Deputy Executive Director, U.S. Army Operational Test Command, charged with overseeing the planning, conducting, and reporting of operational tests, assessments, and experiments, which provide essential information for the acquisition and fielding of Warfighting systems and equipment.  

In 2013, Ms. Van Dusen served as the Interim Acting Director for the AV TD and most recently served as the Deputy Director/Senior Test Manager of AV TD. During this time Ms. Van Dusen oversaw the successful testing of the initial Rucksack Portable Unmanned Aircraft System (RPUAS), the Future Utility Aircraft, the Family of Small UAS Systems, the Aerial Weapons Scoring System, Enhanced Robotic Payloads-Unmanned Aerial System, and the Tethered Eagle Unmanned Aerial System among other systems.  

Ms. Van Dusen's community outreach efforts in STEM conferences and career fairs maintained alliances with local high schools and universities, while resulting in the mentorship of numerous high school STEM students and the hiring of recent college graduates as STEM interns who will one day be the future leaders of OTC. Her distinguished career of service and all her contributions to Army aviation testing continue to have profound impact on Army decision makers' confidence regarding the acquisition of test items into the Army's aviation inventory.