Role and Company
Program Manager, L-3 Communications
Expertise
32 years experience in defense, aerospace, & aviation
Location
Woodway, TX
About David
I am a retired Army senior enlisted soldier (E-8 / First Sergeant) with over 21 years of active service. I was an Electronic Maintenance Chief during my career, with multiple assignments that placed me in a direct role monitoring and advising contractors (Contracting Officer's Representative - COR) and civilian personnel. In the last few years of service I served almost exclusively in acquisition of material goods. I'm a combat vet of Iraq, having served with the 101st Airborne during the opening days of the war.
Upon retirement in in 2004, I enrolled in a college program to complete my BS. I had over 120 hours with no degree. 14 months later I had completed a BS in Management. Shortly thereafter, I was hired by L-3 Communications. I began my career with L-3 as a senor Acquisition Analyst, and worked my way through multiple DoD Defense Acquisition University courses to bolster my skill sets in contract, project, and program management and acquisition of material goods within the DAU Acquisition framework. In 2006, L-3 agreed to fund an MBA course of study. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008 with a Masters of Business Administration, concentration in Management.
After rising to a management position in Operational Planning and Project Management in 2009, I transferred to a Texas division of L-3 to assume a Program Manager's role. In this capacity I oversee the multiple aircraft projects undergoing some element of Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM), specific Missions System Modification or in some cases, Foreign Military Sales programs designed to assist partner countries with their aircraft requirements. I am responsible for multiple projects from cradle to grave, RFP response, negotiation, cost, schedule, performance and close out. I manage a matrixed organization with hundreds of people assigned across multiple disciplines.
I am married, and have three boys. My wife is a Social Worker for the Veteran's Affairs. One son served in the Army, in Afghanistan and has since moved on to a civilian position. One son is in ROTC at a Virginia university and should receive an Army Commission in 2017. My youngest is a senior in high school, enrolled in USMC JROTC with aspirations to study Aerospace Engineering in college.
I spend most of my weekends either in my camper, or in my boat. I love mountain biking, reading and golf, not necessarily in that order, and spending the day with my Aussie cattle dog, Jack, just knocking about in the truck when nothing else pressing is vying for my time. I love the University of Louisville Cardinals, and the short Texas winters. Finally, I've volunteered my time to assist separating and wounded warriors since retiring. Assisting a veteran and imparting any knowledge I may have gleaned from the process is important to me. I believe in helping my fellow veterans.