Colin O'Brien Email & Phone Number

United States

United States

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Designs, executes, and evaluates experiments to examine materiel and non-materiel solutions to critical warfighting problems.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Program Manager for Test and Evaluation (T&E) providing contract support for three MDAP ACAT I programs (CVN 78, DDG 1000 & LCS). These efforts are in direct support of Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) as the US Navy’s Operational Test Agency (OTA). As Program Manager, provides oversight and direction to three teams of 11 subject matter experts and test and evaluation analysts. - Hand-picked to lead the dynamic and critical US Navy LCS program through two phases of test, in two separate test events. After scoping the project, understanding the requirements, led a two separate cross-functional teams of contract and government personnel through two test events. Successfully managed of the program, resulting in successful test execution, exceptional analytical and administrative follow-up, and comprehensive test planning. Skillfully managed contract expenditures for labor and travel in order to ensure best value for the government. - Utilized a thorough understanding of DoD Acquisitions processes, current policies and best practices to support COMOPTEVFOR. Demonstrated a full grasp of the entire testing process, including Integrated Evaluation Framework (IEF) construction, the Test Planning Process and the Post-Test Iterative Process to simultaneously lead three separate programs in various stages of development. - Leveraged extensive operational and T&E expertise and experience across a wide range of system test projects to include all warfare areas. This experience has allowed for greater support of the Operational Test Director (OTD) both in qualitative and quantitative support to the program. This support was critical in the preparation, execution, data recording, analysis and reporting of both DT and OT test events supporting assigned programs.

Falls Church, Va

Performed acquisitions project management assistance as a member of the PMO support staff for the Defense Agencies Initiative (DAI), a DoD ACAT IA level program charged with delivering auditable compliant business environments for various Defense Agencies. Documented all acquisition activities through formal record keeping, worked within the organization to meet short notice requests for information, created and edited briefs for the Program Manager to be given to various levels of the OSD and DoD organizations and staffs.- Initiated the creation, content and editing of the program’s annual Business System Review (BSR) which provided a system overview to the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for DAI. As an overview highlight to the program roadmap, items of interest, risks/issues, contracts, funding execution and cost saving, its construction required the compilation of information from various sectors of the business into a coherent and complete message. - Developed, edited and promulgated the Defense Acquisition Executive Summary (DAES). As a quarterly report designed as to be the principle mechanism for tracking programs between milestone reviews, the report required working with cross-functional teams within the program in order to establish updated programmatic information and risks, financial measures, as well as detailed descriptions of the progress of development, testing and sustainment of the software. - Managed the administrative support to the Program Risk Program as the primary point of contact for the monthly Risk Management Board (RMB), recorded, edited and finalized meeting minutes, created and promulgated the brief, and collected all new risk candidates, substantiated risks, and issues from the various support departments. These actions allowed the PM to maintain oversight on the program’s status and exposure to risk, thereby allowing for proactive measures to reduce the risk to the program.

Pentagon

As an action officer I supported the OPNAV programs, provided support services to the Requirements Manager for my assigned program. I was primarily responsible for thorough and complete coordination of joint actions, and the proper preparation of written or oral responses and briefings for OPNAV staff, the VCNO, or CNO. I coordinated with my Branch Head to obtain policy guidance and instructions for the development of Navy positions regarding the DDG 1000 program. I am an expert in OPNAV processes, synchronizing the priorities of Navy Leadership and being a subject matter expert (SME) that presents creative and original solutions. I created briefs in the PPBE process for the discussion, dissemination and justification of Program Objective Memorandum (POM) issues to support decision-making and prioritize determinations for fiscal support. I supported the JCIDS process by reviewing Draft CONOPS for the various programs and provided specific substantive feedback comments to the originator in order to provide more specific and accurate depictures of the individual program, the platform, operations and tactics it will perform. Additionally, I developed a “library” of classified and unclassified documents and doctrine related to missions, capabilities and doctrine and how my program will support these missions through challenging fiscal requirements and changing platform capabilities. Working within the Defense Acquisition System, and I worked with other OPNAV organizations to develop paths forward to new capabilities for the platform based on emerging and pre-existing technologies that will enhance the lethality and significance of my assigned platforms.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Managed and administered Navy-wide warfare Information Operations (IO), Electronic Warfare (EW) and Operations Security (OPSEC) publications under the command's responsibility as the primary review authority. Works with 11 subject matter expert civilians and one military person to produce periodic doctrine updates for the US Navy fleet. Provides scheduling of doctrine priorities and production, document review and updating. Liaised with Naval Warfare Doctrine Command (NWDC) and Naval Information Dominance Force (NAVIDFOR) to establish a periodic review cycle designed to inform the fleet on current doctrine efforts, as well as provide a communication means request assistance in doctrine development. This effort resulted in a cornerstone movement to establish a formal structure to the process of doctrine management. Several senior commands were brought together under one policy to enable better workload management, more efficient allocation of limited resources and a more streamlined process for establishing priorities within the arena of Information Operations doctrine. This movement had an enterprise-wide impact to the warfare area. Created a five-year “Roadmap” for doctrine development that established tasks and goals for future Information Operations doctrine policy as well as laid out a sequential plan to update, revise and create doctrine for the Fleet.

Bahrain

Responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of all foreign port operations movements as well as oversight to the maintenance and logistics support to 17 Harbor Security, to include production planning for phased refurbishment of the boats. Included in responsibilities are facilities management, contracting, civilian workforce management and human relations administration. Created a $2.5M plan to modernize, refurbish and repair all harbor security boats (HSBs) over two years. Balanced the physical repair and upgrade needs of the boats, versus the operational AT/FP requirements of the installation. Created a test program for new outboard engines for the HSBs utilizing the collection of quantitative data as well as subjective user surveys to produce concise report that resulted in a defendable acquisition recommendation to executive management. Worked with Naval Facilities Engineering (NAVFAC), public works and contract personnel to develop a pier maintenance and rehabilitation plan to enabled the installation to continue to support operations while undergoing the necessary invasive pier upgrades and repairs.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Planned, coordinated, and conducted operational effectiveness and suitability tests, evaluations and assessments of candidate technologies for US Navy weapons and sensor systems in accordance with statutory, regulatory (e.g. DODI 5000.02), and DoD guidance. Tests ultimately resulted in recommendations for DoD acquisition decisions. Managed and directed an entire US Navy FOT&E event for a non-traditional, substantive, mission-oriented program with a budget of $360k. Utilized the JCIDS process and requirements to create a mission-based test design (MBTD), draft a test and evaluation master plan (TEMP), an integrated evaluation framework (IEF), test procedures, test criteria and metrics in which to evaluate candidate technologies for the port operations security program Electronic Harbor Security System (EHSS) during its Final Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) program phase. Planned and coordinated site assessment, assist visits and training operations for both preparation and evaluation of the system. Lead a team of six contractors, three civilian government personnel and an EODMU detachment in Souda Bay, Greece in the highly successful test event. Applied a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods including statistical design, design of experiments to gauge the program's effectiveness and suitability. Analyzed and evaluated major administrative aspects of the program to ensure it was complete and correct. Lead a team in planning, organizing and directing to effectively implement recommendations on the program. Supervised the conduct of tests onsite to operational testing for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detection. Provided operational subject matter expertise for the Joint Mission Planning System – Expeditionary (JMPS-E) software module. Coordinated an interagency mentorship program between the Department of the Navy and the Department of Homeland Security for a $4.1 million DHS program of record operational testing program.

Norfolk, Va

Managed and administered a department of 120 personnel who were responsible for the data information systems, information technology, combat systems, communications, radars and weapons systems of a large deck amphibious ship. Directed all communications activities of the command. Supervised the security of classified information; operational security (OPSEC/COMSEC), administrative directives, communications management and organization; signals officer management and organization; message drafting and communications equipment, and systems (conventional, automated and satellite). Managed all information exchange systems external to the command. Consulted with users, management, vendors and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements. Directed the daily operations of the department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Led, trained and assessed the tactical performance of the Combat Direction Center (CDC) team. Provided unit and area defense of the carrier strike group through surveillance, tactics and sensor employment. Assisted staff commanders by planning and coordinating tactical employment of aircraft and ships. Planned training for the ship’s integrated training team (ITT). Prepared and reviewed tactical instructions and operational doctrine. Recommended strategic distribution of air forces around the aircraft carrier. Served as a staff operations officer when embarked with the task force commander. Performed as a tactical action officer (TAO) that supported ship self-defense initiatives, as well as larger strike group operations.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Led and administered over 90 personnel in the ship’s Operations Department. Provided tactical expertise in air, surface, subsurface and amphibious warfare. Provided oversight to the maintenance management program, operational programs and project management. Coordinated the ship’s operations, training and tactical planning. Organized the Operations Department and delegated responsibilities for communications, Combat Information Center (CIC) and ship self-defense activities. Conferred with the commanding officer and department heads in preparation of the ship’s operational plans and training schedules. Conducted briefings to all levels of command and staff. Directed surface and air searches and electronic countermeasures. Evaluated and disseminated operational information, advising command tactics and ship movement and controlling airborne aircraft through the CIC officer. Supervised all electronic equipment repair.

Ms, Management

Studies business administration and received a MS in Management.

Bs, History

Activities and Societies: Rugby Team