Michael Blakeslee Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Market segment technical lead for business development team. Responsible for evaluating customer requirements, architecting technical solutions, cost estimates and building customer intimacy. Developed and delivered technical white papers and presentations. Collaborated with internal and external business partners, vendors, suppliers. Lead technical proposal development and contract negotiation.• Conceptualized strategic aircraft mission system production approach, reducing over-all program cost and greatly improving the company’s competitive position• Spearheaded and estimated technical solution for a quick - response $400M proposal in one week, solidifying position as a sole source provider for the desired product.• Prepared and delivered product overviews and demonstrations at International conventions, improving customer intimacy and product exposure to international and domestic users.

Assembled, lead and managed a cross discipline engineering team for development of a leading edge, highly integrated system, from proposal phase through product delivery. Worked collaboratively with all program disciplines including program management, finance, business analyst, marketing, contracts, sourcing, scheduling, quality, global sustainment, operations and logistics. Responsible for developing the technical solution, managing a $25M budget and meeting the development and aircraft modification schedule.• Planned, staffed and lead cross disciplined team of 50+ software, electrical, mechanical, systems, test, safety, and network engineers, meeting all technical requirements on schedule and on budget.• Mentored Engineering Leadership Development Program participants, providing them with exposure to all engineering development phases increasing their overall value to the corporation.• Maintained effective customer relationships during $200M contract negotiation and execution, guaranteeing future follow- on business opportunities. • Implemented first deployment of new company processes, achieving required goals without increasing baseline budget or schedule.

Technical lead for the design, integration, test and delivery of a leading edge surveillance system on a 72 aircraft modification program. Responsible for ensuring all technical, schedule and budget requirements were met.• Assembled and managed all development, integration, liaison and test team activities, ensuring coordinated cross-domain engineering efforts and on time product delivery • Lead product upgrade proposal and negotiation efforts, improving turn-around time and minimizing aircraft retrofit efforts• Planned short and long term capability upgrade roadmaps, improving United States Navy funding requirements and program awards

Managed development and deployment of a leading edge maritime surveillance aircraft data link capability.• Developed and negotiated the program proposal, ensuring timely contract award and execution• Coordinated cross-domain engineering efforts, improving development schedules, eliminating unnecessary tasks and costs

Performed system design, integration and engineering liaison for aircraft surveillance system development and production programs.• Provided aircraft modification engineering liaison support, improving response time for design changes and over-all modification schedule• Evaluated and re-designed existing systems, substantially reducing production, maintenance and documentation costs• Developed interface control and installation control documentation, improving transfer of product design criteria to customers and suppliers