2019 Redstone Update: Featured Speakers

December 2, 2019

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is pleased to present the 2019 Redstone Update. Here are bios for the panelists and speakers, for our event on December 4.

8:05 a.m. Opening Remarks: LTG Edward Daly, RSA Senior Commander

8:15 a.m. Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team: BG Walter Rugen, Director

8:40 a.m. Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Cross Functional Team: Jeri Manley, Deputy Director

9:05 a.m. Space and Missile Defense Command (ASCC to Space Command): James Johnson, Deputy to the Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

9:30 a.m. RCCTO Hypersonic Project Office: COL Ian Humphrey, Project Manager, RCCTO Hypersonic Project Office

9:55 a.m. FBI: Rob Hamilton, Senior Executive, FBI Redstone Operations Support

10:20 a.m. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center: Jody Singer, Director, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

10:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: 4 Core Competencies ~ John Nerger, Moderator

Dr. Charles Basham, Chief of Staff, PEO Missiles & Space

Dr. Juanita Christensen, Executive Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

MG Doug Gabram, Director of Test, Missile Defense Agency

Special Agent Brice McCracken, Division Chief, National Center for Explosives Training and Research, ATF

Bill Marriott, Deputy to the Commander, AMCOM

LTG Edward Daly

Deputy Commanding General
Redstone Arsenal Senior Commander

Lieutenant General Edward M. Daly assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command on 7 August 2017. In his role, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Army’s logistics enterprise. He also serves as the Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

He previously served as the Commanding General of Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, where he executed Army Materiel Command’s mission to deliver readiness. Prior to commanding ASC, he served as Army Materiel Command’s Deputy Chief of Staff, overseeing the roles and functions of the Headquarters staff.

Lieutenant General Daly was 37th Chief of Ordnance and Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School. He also served as Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army G-4; Commander of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colorado, and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan; Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff/Chief Plans Officer, G-4, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Rapid Deployable Corps based in Italy and deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM; and Commander of 702nd Main Support Battalion, Division Support Command, 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army, Republic of Korea.

Earlier assignments as a company grade officer include various logistics and leadership roles with 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; United States Army Europe; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he deployed in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. He also served as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

Lieutenant General Daly was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1987. He earned Master’s Degrees in Business Administration from Gonzaga University, and in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

BG Walter Rugen

Director, Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team
U.S. Army Futures Command

Brigadier General Walter Rugen was born and raised in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and was commissioned through the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1989.

His first assignment was as an aviation platoon leader, Camp Page, Republic of Korea. In 1992, he was assigned to 9-101st Aviation Battalion (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served in a variety of positions and commanded B/9-101st. BG Rugen was then assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), where he served as an MH-60K platoon leader and company operations officer in D/1-160 SOAR (A). From 2000-2002, he commanded D/160th SOAR (A) at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico and flew extensively in Central/South America and the Caribbean. In 2003, he transitioned to become the battalion operations officer for 3rd Battalion 160th SOAR (A) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2005 he was assigned as a strategic plans officer in the J5 at the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In 2007, BG Rugen commanded 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment and again deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. From 2009-2011, BG Rugen was assigned to the Army Staff in the aviation directorate at the Pentagon, where worked on multiple strategic issues affecting Army Aviation. In 2011, he was designated an Army Fellow and served at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. From 2012-2014, he commanded the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade in the Republic of Korea. He then transitioned back to the Pentagon where he became the Chief Army Aviation Force Development Division in the Army G8 from 2014- 2016. From 2016-2017, he served as the Director of Materiel in HQDA G8 before serving as the 7th Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General – Support at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington from 2017-2018. Currently, BG Rugen is the Director of U.S. Army Futures Command’s Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

BG Rugen’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with numeral 4, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/ 3 service stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (w/ 4 service stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Staff Badge and Dominican Republic Parachutist Badge.

BG Rugen is married to the former Ms. Leigh Anne Boling and they have three wonderful children, Victoria, Jacob and Wesley.

Jeri Manley

Deputy Director
Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Cross Functional Team
U.S. Army Futures Command

Ms. Manley was selected for the Deputy Director position in April 2019. In this position, she is responsible for developing PNT, Navigation Warfare, and Space capabilities to enable Army forces to reduce reliance on Global Positioning Systems and penetrate enemy anti-access area denial systems. She leads a team of 25 military, civilians and contractor CFT staff charged with synchronizing all PNT modernization efforts across the Army.

Her previous assignments included Acting Director, Space and Strategic Systems, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) where she directed small satellite Science and Technology projects developing communications, imaging and PNT capabilities for the Army; Division Chief, Space Systems, USASMDC/ARSTRAT; Army voting member for the Department of Defense Space Experiment Review Board.

Prior to these assignments, she served 10 years in technical positions at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Her positions included Deputy, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Test and Evaluation Directorate, responsible for testing all aspects of the THAAD weapon system for the MDA Director for Test to include flight, ground, component, Wargames and Exercises and Foreign Material Sales testing; Chief, THAAD Flight Test Planning and Analysis Division responsible for pre and post-test analysis; Campaign Director, Combined Test Force responsible for Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) test planning, analysis and execution of PATRIOT, Israeli Cooperative, Air Borne Laser, and various satellite development test programs for MDA.

She served in several other key roles for USASMDC including Assistant Product Director for the Liquid Booster Target System, Ballistic Missile Defense Targets Joint Project Office, responsible for propulsion, and Guidance, Navigation, and Control hardware/ software development and testing; Executing Agent of Ballistic Missile Defense Organization’s (BMDO) Target Characterization Program; Team lead for the Critical Measurement and Countermeasure Program; Team lead for BMDO Foreign Materiel Asset Program responsible for sustainment of the fleet and development and test of domestic propellant surrogates to include sub-scale and full-scale static engine firings.

Ms. Manley earned a BS degree from Athens State University and is married to Bryon Manley. She is mother to Meagan, Jamie, Garrett, and Zane. Ms. Manley is a Defense Acquisition Corps member and is certified Level III in Test and Evaluation and Level II in Program Management.

James Johnson

Deputy to the Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Mr. James B. Johnson Jr. serves as the Deputy to the Commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. As the senior civilian in the command, he provides leadership for the Army’s space and missile defense programs, acquisition, personnel and resource management.

He most recently served as the director of the Future Warfare Center, USASMDC. He was responsible fro space and global ballistic missile defense doctrine and training, concept development, decision support, TRADOC Capability Managers for Space and High Altitude and Global Ballistic Missile Defense.

From May 2010, to March 2015, Mr. Johnson served as director of the U.S. Army Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment Activity. From July 2008 to May 2010, he served as director of the Developmental Test Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. On Jan. 7, 2007, Johnson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. In January 2007, Mr. Johnson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. His prior assignments include director of the U.S. Army Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC), Developmental Test Command, as well as multiple assignments in the Missile Defense Agency, Ground- Based Midcourse Defense Joint Program Office in Huntsville, Alabama; director of Test Operations; deputy product manager of the Test, Training and Exercise Capability Product Office; and chief of the Test Products Division in TTEC.

Prior to his MDA service, Johnson served at RTTC as team leader of the Radar Systems Group. Johnson began his government career with the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Johnson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and he is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and the Advanced Program Management Course.

His awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Superior Civilian Service Award, the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, the Edward H. Gamble award, the Test and Evaluation Command Professional Certificate, the AMRDEC Extraordinary Performance Award, the Association of the U.S. Army Redstone Chapter 2015 Civilian of the Year, and a U.S. patent.

COL Ian Humphrey

Project Manager, RCCTO Hypersonic Project Office

COL Humphrey is currently the Project Manager for the Long Range Hypersonics Weapon Integration office.

His previous acquisition assignments include: the Product Manager for the Enhanced Command and Control program at the Missile Defense Agency. Assignment with PM Future Combat System as the Assistant Product Manager (APM) for Manned Vehicle Integration. PM Ground Combat Vehicle as the APM for Lethality. TARDEC as the Military Deputy for the Rapid Capabilities Cell. PM Bradley under PM Armored Brigade Combat Team as the APM for Bradley Modernization. Department of the Army Systems Coordinator (DASC) at the Pentagon. And the Regional Command South/Southwest/West Acquisition Advisor for Operation Enduring Freedom.

COL Humphrey was commissioned in the Field Artillery upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1997. He was assigned to the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Here he served as an Aviation Battalion Fire Support Officer (Blackhawk company), Battery Operations Officer and Fire Direction Officer with Bravo Battery, 4-11 FA and finally as the XO for the Brigade Headquarters Company. COL Humphrey was then assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery (MLRS) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer and as Battery Commander for Charlie Battery, 3-13 FA (MLRS). Less than two months after taking command, COL Humphrey deployed his battery as part of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 3rd ID to Kuwait in January of 2003 and became Delta Battery, 1-39 FA (MLRS) as the third firing battery for the Division MLRS battalion for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following command he served as a Company and Battalion Tactical Officer at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

COL Humphrey’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with four OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with one OLC, the Presidential Unit Citation Award, the National Defense Service Medal with two OLC, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. COL Humphrey is also awarded the Order of St. Barbara Medal and the Order of St. Maurice Medal.

COL Humphrey is married to the former Jessica Keil from Toms River, New Jersey and they have a daughter, Morgan (17) and son, Cody (15).

Robert Hamilton

Senior Executive, FBI Redstone Operations Support

Robert Hamilton is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Senior Executive for FBI Redstone Operations Support. He is responsible for reception and integration of multiple FBI headquarters functions to the Redstone Arsenal team. This transition includes supporting the design and construction of new FBI Facilities on Redstone, as well as overseeing and implementing the enterprise services support model.

Rob is currently the Senior Executive (SES) for the FFD—Redstone Innovative Services Team (RIST). In that position, he supports overall planning and construction of all future FBI Projects; manages the full lifecycle of operations support for the FBI on Redstone and the planning and execution of receiving FBI personnel relocating across the country to Redstone.

He was previously the Senior Executive responsible for the FBI’s field offices which includes over 850 facilities with an annual budget of $1 Billion and was responsible for the FBI’s fleet management program, which consisted of over 24,000 Vehicles and the environmental, safety and health program.

Rob also served as Special Assistant to both Associate Deputy Director of the FBI and the Assistant Director of the Facilities and Logistics Services Division.

Prior to joining the FBI, Rob served as Program Manager for Raytheon Company serving as the mission assurance lead for the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System supporting Army surveillance.

Mr. Hamilton is a distinguished graduate from the US Air Force Academy with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management. He graduated from the University of Texas with an MBA and from Harvard Business School’s General Management Program.

He served as a Rescue Aviator in the Active Duty US Air Force flying the HC-130 in support of rescue operations worldwide.

He currently serves in the Air Force Reserves as a Deputy Mission Support Group Commander in the 433rd Air Wing out of Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland TX.

Rob is Married to Melissa Hamilton and they have four children.

Jody Singer

Director, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

Jody Singer is the director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Appointed in September 2018, Singer manages one of NASA’s largest field installations, with nearly 6,000 on- and near-site civil service and contractor employees and an annual budget of approximately $2.8 billion. Prior to being named to the position, Singer had served as Marshall acting director since July 2018 and was deputy director from February 2016 to July 2018, assisting the director with the daily management of the center’s workforce and operations.

During her 32-year NASA career, Singer has held leadership roles of increasing responsibility in human spaceflight, technology and science flight missions programs and projects and was appointed in 2002 to the Senior Executive Service, the personnel system covering top managerial positions in federal agencies. She began her NASA engineering career in 1985 through the professional intern program in the mission planning and development office.

In 1986, she joined the Space Shuttle Program office, where she was an engineer in the Space Shuttle Main Engine office and involved with Return to Flight activities after the Challenger accident. From 1990 to 2002, she was the business manager, technical assistant and deputy manager in the External Tank project office. From 2002 to 2007, she served as the first female project manager for the Reusable Solid Rocket

Booster Project and led the team during the Columbia Return to Flight activities. In 2008 until the shuttle’s successful retirement in 2011, she served as the deputy manager in the Space Shuttle Propulsion Office.

From 2010 through 2012, she held deputy positions for three concurrent major programs: the Space Shuttle, Ares, and the start-up of the Space Launch System (SLS). As deputy for the Shuttle Propulsion Office, she guided successful fly-out and retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. As the deputy of the Ares Project Office, Singer was responsible for the transition of the workforce and assets after project cancellation. Singer was also integral to the start-up of the Space Launch System (SLS) program. As the deputy program manager of the SLS at Marshall, she helped oversee nearly 3,000 civil servants and contractors involved in the developing and testing of the vehicle, which is the most powerful rocket ever built, able to carry astronauts in NASA’s Orion spacecraft on deep space missions to the Moon and ultimately to Mars.

From 2013 until In 2016, Singer served as the manager of the Flight Programs and Partnerships Office at Marshall, where she held primary responsibility for the center’s work with human advanced exploration projects, science flight mission programs, technology demonstration missions, commercial crew, and International Space Station life support systems, research facilities, and payload operations. Singer also was responsible for identifying opportunities to develop and maintain partnerships with other government agencies, academia, and international and commercial partners that will help achieve NASA’s vision.

Singer, a native of Hartselle, Alabama, earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Alabama in 1983. She has completed two NASA Fellowships, one at Pennsylvania State University in State College and another at the Simmons College Graduate School of Management in Boston.

She has been recognized with numerous awards during her NASA career, including NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals and two Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive Awards, the highest honor for career federal employees. She received the Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award in 2005 for inspiring the Shuttle Propulsion Office to strive for excellence and continuous improvement; and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1993 while managing the External Tank project’s business office. For her dedication and commitment to excellence and achievement in support of the human space program, she was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award by the NASA astronaut corps, and was named a Space Flight Awareness Launch Honoree.

Singer and her husband, Chris, live in Huntsville. They have three children and two grandchildren.

John Nerger

John B. Nerger

Senior Military Advisor, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Director, Analytical Mechanics Associates

Mr. Nerger retired from the Department of the Army in 2015 after nearly 36 years of federal government service, including 15 years as a member of the Senior Executive Service, concluding his career as the Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command. He currently serves as the Senior Military Advisor for the Huntsville/Madison County Alabama Chamber of Commerce and also supports the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee and Redstone Regional Alliance. He consults part-time for the Army and is a senior technical advisor and Director for Analytical Mechanics Associates, an aerospace engineering company. He is the vice-chair of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission overseeing the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Defense Communities.

Mr. Nerger holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Virginia, and he attended the U.S. Army War College. His awards include Presidential Rank Awards of Distinguished Executive and Meritorious Executive.

Dr. Charles Basham

Chief of Staff, PEO Missiles & Space

Dr. Charles S. Basham serves as the Chief of Staff for the Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space (PEO MS), Redstone Arsenal, AL. He assumed his current duties in June 2016.

Prior to his assignment as Chief of Staff, Dr. Basham served as Chief of the International Programs Division, Project Office Aircraft Survivability Equipment, Program Executive Office, Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEWS), Redstone Arsenal.

Dr, Basham completed a developmental assignment with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) serving as acquisition lead for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Program Office, and also serving as the Deputy Program Manager for the New Kill Vehicle Program. Prior to his MDA assignment, Dr. Basham was a Senior Service College Fellowship Fellow with the Defense Acquisition University, Huntsville, AL. Dr. Basham also served as the Deputy ProjectManager for Integraton, Project Office Aircraft Survivability Equipment, PEO IEWS; Assistant Product Manager, Mobile Tower System and the Tactical Terminal Control System, Product Management Office Air Traffic Control, Program Executive Office Aviation, Redstone Arsenal; Chief Combat Service Support Division and Senior Acquisition Officer, Army Evaluation Center, Alexandria, VA; Senior Staff Analyst, Precision Fires and Rocket Systems Program Office, Redstone Arsenal.

Dr. Basham enlisted in the Army in January, 1976 as a Legal Clerk. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps as a missile maintenance officer in 1982. Upon completing the Ordnance Officer Basic Course, he served as Executive Officer , 6th Student Company; TAC Officer for the Ordnance Missile and Munitions Officer’s Basic Course and Battalion S-1 and S-4, 2nd Battalion, Redstone Arsenal.

After completing the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course, Dr. Basham served with the 702nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea as the Missile and Field Artillery Commodity Manager, and B Company Commander. Dr. Basham also commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal.

Dr. Basham has a Bachelor’s of BusinessManagement fromAthens State University and a Masters ofManagement from Florida Institute of Technology. Dr. Basham also holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Organization Management from Capella University.

Dr. Basham’s military education includes: Ordnance Missile Maintenance Basic Course, Ordnance Missile Maintenance Advance Course, Materiel Acquisition Management Course, Combined Arms & Services Staff School, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Defense Systems Management College, Advanced Program Management Course, the Army Management Staff College Continuing Education for Senior Leaders and the Senior Service College Fellowship. He is level III certified in both Program Management and Test and Evaluation. He is also level II certified in Life Cycle Logistics.

His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the Parachutist Badge.

Dr. Juanita Christensen

Executive Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center

Dr. Christensen was selected for Senior Executive Service in February, 2015. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation & Missile Center, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. CCDC Aviation & Missile Center conducts research, exploratory and advanced development, and technology demonstrations to advance the capabilities of Army Aviation Platforms and Missile Systems along with providing life-cycle engineering services for all Army aviation and missile systems.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

November 2017 – Present: Executive Director, Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation & Missile Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL
February 2015 – November 2017: Director, Weapons Development and Integration Directorate,
U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center’s Engineering Directorate, Redstone Arsenal, AL
August 2012 – February 2015 – Deputy Director for the Aviation Development Directorate (ADD), U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center’s Engineering Directorate, Redstone Arsenal, AL
September 2008 – August 2012 – Technical Management Division Chief, Project Management Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS), PEO Aviation, Huntsville, AL
February 2007 – September 2008 – Director and Engineering Analysis Directorate, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), Huntsville, AL
January 2005 – February 2007 – Principal Systems/Integration Engineer, UAS Program Management Office supporting the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ERMP) UAV, SDI Inc., Huntsville, AL
April 2004 – January 2005 – Principal Systems/Integration Engineer , Cruise Missile Defense System (CMDS) Program Management Office , CAS, Inc., Huntsville, AL
June 1991 – April 2004 – Senior Lead Engineer – Comanche Systems/Software Engineering & Integration, General Dynamics Advanced Information Services (GD-AIS) (formerly Veridian), Huntsville, AL
May 1988 – June 1991 – Senior Electronics Engineer, Boeing (formerly McDonnell Aircraft Company), St. Louis, MO
Nov. 1986 – May 1988 – Software Engineer, Mystech Associates and Structured Technology, New London, Ct.
May 1985 – May 1986 – Electronics Engineer, Boeing, Saint Louis, Mo.

COLLEGE:

Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, University of Phoenix, 2011
MS, Computer Resources and Information Systems Management, Webster University, 1994
BS, Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, 1985

AWARDS AND HONORS:

Government & Industry Award, Alabama A&M University Alumni Chapter , June 2018
Patriotic Employer Certificate of Appreciation, May 15, 2017
Women of Color Professional Achievement Award – Government, October 2016
Dred Scott Freedom Award (Inaugural Event), Military Achievement, December 2015
WEDC, Women Honoring Women Recipient for Technical Category, September 2015
Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support to PEO Aviation, 2008-2012
Alumni Leadership Award, Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM, May 2012
Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) STEM Science Spectrum Trailblazer, Dec 2011
Team SLAMRAAM Certification of Appreciation, January 2005

MG Doug Gabram

Director of Test, Missile Defense Agency

Major General Douglas M. Gabram is the Director for Test at the Missile Defense Agency. In this capacity, he is responsible for planning, programming, budgeting, staffing, and managing a comprehensive Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) test program to field an integrated and effective capability to the warfighter. In addition to directing the BMDS test program, MG Gabram ensures the optimal allocation of resources, responsibilities, and functions within the Test Functional Area workforce, including test planning, design, and execution.

MG Gabram received his commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in 1984. He most recently served as the Commanding General for the US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM). Prior to his Command as the AMCOM CG, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support), 1st Cavalry Division “Americas First Team,” Deputy Commander for the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence, and Chief of Staff 1st Cavalry Division. His Commands include Brigade Command, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; Battalion Command, 1st Battalion 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); and Company Command, B Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

His combat deployments include two tours to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom/Resolute Support with the 1st Cavalry Division as the Division Chief of Staff, Deputy Commanding General, and TAAC-South Commander, three tours to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, twice as a Battalion Commander and once as a Brigade Commander, one tour to Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Guard and Macedonia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor, and one tour to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

He holds a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University in Business Administration and completed a Senior Service College Fellowship at the University of Texas, Austin.

His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star Medal (7), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6), an Air Medal for Valor, Air Medal (4), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (2), and the Army Achievement Medal. He also has earned the Air Assault Badge and Airborne Badge. He is a Master Aviator with over 2,500 flight hours. He is qualified in the UH-1H, OH-58A/C, AH- 1, AH-64A, and the AH-64D Longbow Apache.

Special Agent Brice McCracken

Division Chief, National Center for Explosives Training and Research, ATF

Brice P. McCracken is the Division Chief of the Fire Investigation and Arson Enforcement Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) housed at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Mr. McCracken oversees all of ATF’s fire programs including the Certified Fire Investigators and the National Response Team. He was appointed to his current position on April 1, 2019.

Prior to this, Mr. McCracken was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s San Francisco Field Division, where he oversaw enforcement offices in the Eastern District of California and the District of Nevada. Prior to that, he was the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) of the Fresno, California Field Office. A position he held from June 2013 until April 2017. Mr. McCracken began his career with ATF in June 1999 as a summer hire in the San Jose, California Field Office. From there he worked as a paid student intern in the Spokane, Washington Field Office until he was hired as a Special Agent in July 2003. Mr. McCracken’s first assignment as a Special Agent was in the Tacoma, Washington Field Office.

After 5 years in Tacoma, Mr. McCracken transferred to the Joint Support and Operations Center (JSOC) at ATF Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he worked for 3 years. Mr. McCracken then transferred to the Hyattsville, Maryland Field Office where he worked for 2 years before his selection as the RAC of Fresno. Mr. McCracken was a member of ATF’s Operational Medical Support Program for 6 years.

He holds a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

Bill Marriott

Deputy to the Commander, AMCOM

William Marriott was born into Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Fla., during his father’s service as a Navy helicopter instructor pilot. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1979, he enjoyed a 26-year career as a Naval Aviator.

After graduation from the Academy, he attended flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, and was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1980. After training in the P-3 Orion, he joined the Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN (VP-16) “War Eagles” where he became an Instructor Pilot and deployed to Bermuda, the Philippines, Spain and Iceland. His other operational tours include: Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean/CTF-67 in Naples, Italy, with the Patrol Squadron FIVE “Mad Foxes” as the Maintenance Officer and Senior Instructor Pilot deploying in support of Operation DESERT STORM and also deploying to Rota, Spain, and Keflavik, Iceland; Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN where he led them on a multi-site deployment to Puerto Rico, Panama, and Iceland; and Commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN at Whidbey Island, Wash. In April 2001, he led Wing TEN through an international crisis when 24 members of one of his aircrews were detained in China after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter aircraft.

Marriott’s staff tours include: Safety and Flight Standardization Officer for Patrol Wing ELEVEN; Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel for Selection Board Matters; Senior Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Shalikashvili; Federal Executive Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy assigned as Staff Director for a bipartisan commission headed by Dick Cheney and Richard Perle; Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va.; another tour in the Pentagon as a Congressional Analyst for the Secretary of the Navy in the Office of Program Appraisal; Chief of Naval Operations Fellow in the Strategic Studies Group at Newport, R.I.; another tour in the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller); and the Executive Secretary for the Department of Defense in direct support of Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates.

Marriott retired from active duty in 2005. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2005 and served as the Executive Secretary for DoD until departing for the U.S. Army Materiel Command in 2009. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and G-1. He reported to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command as the Deputy to the Commanding General in 2015. He served as the Executive Director of AMCOM from February to June 2019.

His awards include the Presidential Rank Award – Meritorious; Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service; Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award; Superior Civilian Service Medal; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit (with one star); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Meritorious Service Medal (with two stars); Navy Commendation Medal (with four stars); and numerous campaign, operational and honorary ribbons.