During my twenty five-year Air Force career I had the opportunity to serve as an engineer, program manager and executive leader at the laboratory, system program office, and headquarters levels. Technologies and systems I developed include advanced composite materials fabrication; signature reduction materials and structures; small satellite payload prototyping; machine learning algorithms for natural language processing; photovoltaics; and aircraft, sensors, avionics, and munitions development, test, and production. In my last active-duty assignment, I served as U.S. Special Operations Command’s Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing Aircraft in the rank of Colonel. As PEO I led over two hundred government personnel executing a $1.7B program portfolio. I engaged with Department of Defense, Congress, and industry senior leaders to field wartime combat capabilities on fourteen manned/six unmanned airborne platforms and five precision guided munitions. I also created technology roadmaps to enable the fielding of reconnaissance, strike, and mobility system enhancements.After retirement I joined the University of South Florida, where I collaborated with researchers and administrators to establish the Institute of Applied Engineering. I developed the Institute’s business plan and presented it to the USF Board of Trustees for approval; recruited and managed the Institute’s Board of Directors; and established policies and procedures for compliance in a complex regulatory environment. I maintained a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, and led the Institute’s contracting, finance, information technology, security, facility, and human resource teams. I developed the Institute’s annual budget, including establishing revenue targets and operating expenses in a startup environment. I also developed and executed contract and grant proposals, including authoring the proposal that led to the award of a five-year, $85M task order contract with USSOCOM. Finally, I crafted the Institute’s strategic plan, and in support designed and constructed its 12,000 sq ft rapid prototyping and testing facility.I am a passionate, hands-on leader, mentor, critical thinker, and communicator serving at the Director-level in the defense and aerospace R&D industry. I have a consistent track record of delivering innovative solutions to a host of complex problems, with the ability to build and mentor a team with an attention to detail to ensure success. I am exploring new opportunities that take advantage of my talents and experience, so please contact me directly!