Ms. Shitarria Battle is the Chief Engineer for the Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) Systems Development branch within the Missile Defense Agency. Ms. Battle provides technical direction to over 250 military, government civilians and contractors dispersed in the United States while managing requirements, ensuring test quality, and overseeing integration across the entire program. She led the program through the transition from waterfall-style software development to the scaled Agile development method, establishing new Missile Defense Agency policies and procedures.
Ms. Battle was a test engineer for five years with the Army Test and Evaluation Command serving in the Command’s Operational Test Agency. In this position, Ms. Battle led multiple projects including international ground test events where she managed a team of engineers dispersed across three continents.
Ms. Battle earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University. Ms. Battle is certified in Test and Evaluation, Engineering and a member of the Acquisition Professional Community.
Ms. Battle served as an engineering mentor with the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 100+ Women Strong organization as well as a mentor with the University of Florida W.E Rise program. Ms. Battle served as a member of the Junior League of Huntsville where she volunteered with local women leaders to improve the Huntsville/Madison community through fundraising, advocacy and community programming.
Ms. Battle was the 2020 Women of Color Magazine “Managerial Leadership in Government” award recipient and a University of Florida 2021 40 under 40 Honoree.
Adrianne Collins is senior vice president of Supply Chain Management and chief
procurement officer at Southern Company. She leads an organization of more than
650 employees dedicated to providing innovative supply chain solutions across the
Southern Company system. In this role, she provides direction for the company’s
supply chain organization, including category management, contracting, procurement, supplier inclusion, logistics,
inventory optimization, warehousing and asset disposition. She oversees more than $10 billion annually in
purchasing of services and materials to enable the system in providing clean, safe, reliable, affordable and resilient
energy.
Prior to her current role, Collins was senior vice president of Power Delivery. In that role, she led the Transmission
Planning, Bulk Power Operations, Energy Management Systems and Transmission Policy and Services
organizations. Collins worked with key industry bodies to advance energy policy.
Previously, Collins was Gulf Power’s vice president of Power Delivery and led the Distribution, Transmission and
Supply Chain Management organizations at the former Southern Company subsidiary.
She co-led the Southern Company Power Delivery coordination of restoration in Puerto Rico following Hurricane
Maria. When Hurricane Michael devastated portions of northwest Florida, she was the executive lead for the
response to the unprecedented storm. As Transmission general manager, she led the largest power grid expansion
program in Gulf Power’s history.
After joining the Southern Company system in 1998 as a distribution engineer at Gulf Power, Collins went on to
hold a number of key engineering and leadership roles at Gulf Power and subsidiary Georgia Power.
Collins received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida. She is highly engaged
in the industry, serving on the executive committee of the Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance (SSCA) and on the
Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Chief Procurement Officers Executive Committee. She previously served as chair of
the North American Transmission Forum (NATF), vice-chair of the NERC Reliability Issues Steering Committee
(RISC) and served on the SERC Board of Directors.
In the community, Adrianne has served in several impactful roles that include board trustee for the University of
West Florida and chair of the Academic Affairs Committee; board president for Ronald McDonald House Charities;
and board member of the Fayette Care Clinic. She is an executive mentor for Momentum, an organization for
women leaders in the Birmingham, Alabama area.
Ed Duran has over 40 years of professional experience in mechanical & aerospace engineering design, manufacturing, and product support. In 37 years at GE Aviation in Cincinnati, beginning as an Edison Engineer after graduation from UF, he led teams that design and support engines, nacelles, and the overhaul business for GE and its customers. In his last role, he was the Senior Executive responsible for technical support of GE’s commercial engine fleets, focused on reliability and customer cost of ownership for over 25,000 engines in service in the worldwide fleet. Ed earned a BSME from the University of Florida, an MSAE from the University of Cincinnati, and an MBA from Xavier University. He has been on Engineering Advisory boards at UF since 1999, and is currently a member of the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering External Advisory Board. Ed and his wife Laura reside in Jacksonville, FL. They have two grown children (Joe & Elena).
Carlos Fernandez serves as a Technology Development Supervisor at the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in Houston, Texas. He started his career with ExxonMobil in 2005 after completion of his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Mechanical and Aerospace Department at the University of Florida. His initial roles had him supporting well completions and wellwork operations in Texas and California. He has since progressed through a variety of technical and commercial roles including: well performance analysis, reservoir simulation research, joint venture management and business transformation. Carlos led the transition of technical wells and reservoir engineering workflows to Technology Centers in India and Malaysia which have grown to support global Upstream operations. Carlos also managed ExxonMobil’s joint venture relations with California based Aera Energy LLC supporting development and production activities and strategies across multiple assets. More recently, he played an integral role supporting the implementation of ExxonMobil’s streamline upstream organization working with global asset leaders to ensure a successful organizational design transition. Currently, Carlos manages a research team focusing on improving global well technologies to deepwater, conventional and liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets. Carlos is also the team captain of the ExxonMobil University of Florida Engineering Recruiting Team and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Texas.
Dr. Camila Françolin is the Division Leader for the Autonomy, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (AGN&C) Division at Draper Laboratory. Under her leadership, the AGN&C Division develops algorithms and software for a variety of applications: from autonomous underwater vehicles for the US Navy to the next generation of human lunar landers for NASA. Prior to her current role, Dr. Françolin led the Perception & Autonomy Group at Draper. In that capacity she helped grow the group’s technical footprint in the area of robotics through an emphasis on business development and external partnerships. In addition to her role at Draper, Dr. Françolin participates in external engagements with a goal of increasing minority engagement in STEM fields, frequently speaking to groups such as AI4ALL and the MIT E2 program. Her technical interests are focused on the development of novel algorithms for robotic motion planning problems, most notably for autonomous underwater vehicles and robotic manipulators. She holds a B.S., M.S, and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida.
Bill Gattle is the Chief Executive Officer of LightRidge Solutions, a space and
defense technology company that specializes in high-performance space and
air collectors and sensors as well as artificial intelligence and machine
learning. He brings over three decades of experience in the space, airborne,
and intelligence markets, driving innovation and change to help national
security customers solve their most challenging problems.
Previously, Bill was President of Space Systems for L3Harris Technologies’
Space & Airborne Systems segment. He was responsible for the business
strategy, financial performance, and successful execution of all programs
within the space systems sector. Prior to leading Space Systems, he was
President for Harris Corporation’s Space and Intelligence Systems segment
until the company’s merger with L3 Technologies. In this role, Bill covered an
extensive portfolio of collection solutions in the intelligence community, air and
space surveillance, small satellites, electronic warfare, wireless solutions and
C4I systems.
Bill holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Science degree in mechanical
engineering from the University of Florida and serves on UF’s Dean’s Advisory
Board, and has served on the Space Foundation Board. He has been a
member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the National Space
Council.
Retired, Senior Vice President
Mike has spent 38 years in the large Power Generation business focused on the Design, Manufacture and Service of Steam Turbines, Gas Turbines, and Electrical Generators. Mike started his career with Westinghouse Electric after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Early years were focused on the Mechanical Design of Rotors & Blading of Steam Turbines along with complete system analyses for Torsional and Differential Expansion response. Mid-career was focused on leading teams responsible for the engineering and implementation of the Service and Repair of Steam Turbines and Gas Turbines including high temperature combustion systems and blading. Siemens and Westinghouse merged to ultimately form the current Siemens Energy Company. Mike spent the last 12 years of his career leading a global multicultural organization responsible for Long Term Service Programs and Modernization Projects for worldwide Power Plant owners.
Mike currently resides in Orlando, FL with his wife, Anne (a fellow Gator grad – 1985), where they raised 2 children, Sarah & Stephen. In his spare time Mike enjoys working with Habitat for Humanity, mountain biking, motorcycling and golfing.
Steve Kowkabany is a Florida native who graduated from UF in 1998 after completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering while completing research in the CIMAR robotics program under Dr. Carl Crane. After working in the power generation, pulp and paper, and photographic film manufacturing sectors, Steve found his way into the field of fire protection and process safety. He founded his own fire protection consulting firm in 2005, which he sold to The Vertex Companies in 2022, a 700-person multi-disciplinary consultancy based out of Weymouth, Massachusetts. Steve currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Fire Protection and Life Safety for Vertex where he leads a group of multi-disciplinary engineers and technicians in Jacksonville Beach, Florida and Gainesville. Steve’s experience at UF prepared him well for a diverse and ever-evolving career that spanned the globe with extensive project work in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil. and through the US mainland the Carribean. In a volunteer capacity, Steve serves as the president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers Florida Chapter, as an appointed board member of the Building Code Adjustment Board of Jacksonville and as a fire protection expert on the Existing Building Inspection Workgroup formed in response to the Surfside Building Collapse. Outside of work, Steve enjoys traveling with his family and playing tennis.
Gary J. Miller is co-founder and Executive Vice President for Research and Development of Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, Florida. Exactech was incorporated in 1985 and develops, manufactures, and distributes orthopaedic implants and biologic materials for orthopaedic applications throughout the world. Gary received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970 from the University of Florida, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (emphasis in Biomechanics) from MIT in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanics and Biomaterials emphasis) in 1977 from the University of Florida — Proudly a Double Gator!! Post-graduation, He joined the faculty of the UF Department of Orthopaedics in 1977 serving as a post-doctoral fellow, assistant and associate professor; and served as Director of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics until leaving UF in 1997 to concentrate fully on his duties at Exactech. Over the years he has served as an Adjunct Associate Professor in various departments of the University of Florida College of Engineering and the College of Veterinary Medicine (Orthopaedics) and now holds a Courtesy Professorship in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). He is the past Chairman of the HWCOE Dean’s Advisory Board (2019-2020) and remains active on the DAB. Gary also enjoys providing guest lectures, mentoring and participating on the industrial advisory boards of UF MAE and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Miller is a member of many professional organizations including being a founding member of the Society for Biomaterials, membership in the Orthopaedic Research Society, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has served as a consultant to various orthopaedic companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gary holds more than 20 patents in the US and abroad. He has presented this work and lectured on orthopaedic biomechanics, implant and instrument design and biomaterials throughout the world.
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
American Physical Society, Member
Acoustical Society of America, Member
Ryan Mitchell has been working in aerospace for over 20 years. For the first decade of his career, Ryan focused on technical aerospace systems expertise and operations. This past decade he specialized in leading people, growing teams, and managing programs from startup through initial production and flight.
Ryan currently works at Blue Origin as a Principal Technical Project Manager and is the strategic growth and capacity leader at for their manufacturing campus at the Kennedy Space Center. In this role, Ryan represents the manufacturing team in the specification, design, construction, and outfitting of every facility on their 300 acre greenfield site. Previously, Ryan served as Director of Manufacturing; hiring, building, and leading a team of over 50 engineers and technicians to construct first articles for the New Glenn first and second stages. Prior to joining Blue Origin, Ryan worked at Embraer Executive Aircraft as an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, establishing initial and rate production for four new product lines. Prior to that, Ryan worked on the Space Shuttle and Ares programs with United Space Alliance in several engineering roles including design, test, assembly, and refurbishment. To date, Ryan’s projects amount to over $1B total investments in over 2M square feet of facilities and tooling.
Ryan started in the aerospace industry after earning a BS in Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Florida. While working, he attended Georgia Tech remotely and completed a MS degree in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on space systems design & optimization.
Ryan’s personal mission in life is to enable a future in which millions of people live and work in space for the benefit of Earth. Along the way, he tries to be the best version of himself, a devoted husband, an involved father to his two children, and to collect engaging stories to tell when he gets to the old folks’ home.
Matt is a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer of Syntheon; a medical device invention, design and development firm. He has thirty-four years of experience working in product development and R&D in the medical device industry. His primary focus has been the development of disposable, minimally invasive surgical and vascular devices. Matt has worked in large corporations such as Cordis and Boston Scientific and held positions from Advanced Research and Development Engineer to Director of Research and Development; guiding a large engineering group responsible for multiple projects. He has also played key roles in several start-ups, holding positions from Senior Design Engineer to Founder and President. Matt graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His major areas of focus over the years have been:
Interventional Neurovasular Radiology
Interventional Cardiology
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Gastroenterology
Laparascopic and General Surgery
Interventional Peripheral Vascular Radiology
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Matt is an inventor on over 175 medical device patents in these areas.
Stephen Richmond is the Core Digital Program Director at SLB, where he is currently developing the strategy, portfolio, and commercialization of solutions that are differentiated by SLB’s leadership in domain expertise and technology. In his 19 years at SLB, he’s had a diverse experience – working boots on the ground on rigs, managing teams, implementing global management systems, developing unique initiatives, and growing various businesses.
Prior to Schlumberger, Stephen graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and while working, received a master’s degree from Harriot Watt University in Scotland.
Stephen’s core belief is that shareholders achieve highest returns when you combine highly motivated, agile, innovative and diverse teams with industry changing technology. Much of Stephen’s effort focuses on that combination.
He is very proud of the history of SLB and the energy sector and is motivated by the energy transition in the coming years. Energy is core to global financial markets and has been the cornerstone of modern society and human progress.
Stephen lives in Houston Texas with his wife Betty Richmond – a lawyer and a Gator Civil Engineering alumnus, and their two children. Even though Stephen currently lives in the Lone Star State, he remains a resident of the Gator Nation.
Louise Scott leads efforts to deliver world-class value to 4.2 million customers in four states served by utilities of Southern Company Gas. In this role, she has responsibility for customer care center operations, billing, payment, credit collections and remittance and supporting customer initiatives. Scott brings more than 30 years of experience to this role. Most recently, Scott served as the vice president of customer services for Southern Company’s Georgia Power subsidiary, where she was responsible for the company’s customer care center in Henry County, smart meters and eBusiness activities that supported 2.5 million customers. Scott joined Southern Company in 1995 and has served in a variety of leadership roles including vice president and regional chief information officer for the company’s Georgia region. She has also served as the Georgia Power manager of region operations in north metro Atlanta, director of customer care center, manager of workforce planning, as well as manager of various power distribution groups. Before joining Southern Company, Scott worked for Florida Power Corporation in engineering, marketing and franchise negotiation roles. A native of Gloversville, New York, Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the State University of New York. She completed the Emory University Goizueta Business School executive program and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School executive accounting and finance program. Scott is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and serves on the boards for the University of Florida Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering External Advisory and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. In 2018, Scott was appointed to the University of Florida’s Dean’s Advisory Board for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. She has also served in leadership roles for numerous community organizations, including the Gwinnett and Cumming-Forsyth County chambers of commerce, Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia, Gwinnett Technical College, Boy Scouts of America, American Cancer Society and United Way.
Tom Singer graduated with a B.S. from the newly merged Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2002, with an aerospace structures focus. Tom went on to work in the Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization and Advanced Composites labs while pursuing a master’s degree, but after accepting a job offer at United Space Alliance, he failed to complete his thesis, just as he was warned. That job landed him on the space side of the industry, as a structural analyst for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters and the Constellation program launch tower, and led to performing launch risk analysis with the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and ACTA. He has lately transitioned to aviation, as a structural analyst for the B-1 at Boeing and the E-2 at Northrop Grumman. Tom is currently supporting a composite airframe development program at NG in Melbourne, FL, with responsibility for structural analysis tools and methods. He also manages a team of engineers, and leads analysis training course development for the site. Tom received AIAA’s Abe M. Zarem Award for Distinguished Achievement for a student conference paper, and has been recognized by NASA as a Spaceflight Awareness Launch Honoree. In his free time, Tom is rebuilding a 1966 Mustang, is a member of the Orlando Curling Club, and has taken up mountain biking with his wife (a fellow Gator grad, c/o 2002) and daughter (a future Gator grad, c/o 2034). He still regrets not finishing that thesis.
Matt Sobieski is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, based in Atlanta, Georgia where he lives with his wife, Katie, and son Peter. Matt graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2009 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After joining Lockheed Martin, Matt held various manufacturing roles in aerospace before starting his MBA. Upon graduating from Emory’s Goizueta Business School in 2014, he joined Equifax and held various leadership roles in operations strategy and quality assurance. More recently as a management consultant, Matt focuses on manufacturing transformations, helping companies in advanced industries like automotive and aerospace drive operational improvements.
A UF Graduate: BME 65, MSE 67, Ph.D. 70 (Machine Design, Thermodynamics and Metallurgy) Professional Engineer in FL., AL., and MS., Registered Mechanical and General Contractor FL. In 1972, 15 months after graduation, Dr. Sparks with two investors formed Systems Engineering Research Facilities, dba as SERF as a Research Firm and has been President and Principal Engineer ever since. In 1978 he and wife Cheri acquired SERF and he developed three service divisions for SERF’s clients:
Engineering and Research:
Engineering ASME Code Pressure Vessels, TEMA Heat Exchangers, Reactors, Columns, Evaporator Systems, Process Piping Systems, and Pneumatic and Mechanical Conveying Systems for Bulk Products. As principal engineer for SERF his Research included: Sea Water Evaporators, Radioactive Wastewater Systems, Titanium testing for Condenser Service for the US Navy. F-15 Eagle Fuel in Flight Simulator for Boeing and the US Air Force. Environmental Wastewater Treatment Applications, Thermal and Fluid Processes, Failure Analysis (FEA) of equipment and products, and Accident Reconstruction and Prevention.
Manufacturing:
ASME Pressure Vessels, Reactors, Heat Exchangers, Distillation Columns, Filters, Alloy and Titanium Piping, Pneumatic and Bulk Conveying and Weighing Equipment for Manufacturing Plants. Specialized Manufacturing of Rotating Equipment and Thermal Applications.
Construction, Design Build:
Unique Engineering, Procure and Construct Projects (EPC) for major Chemical, Paper Mills Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing and Petroleum plants. Systems for Bulk Material Handling. Pneumatic and Mechanical Conveying, Weighing. and large Evaporators and Pressure Vessels. Plastics and Chemical plants and equipment for capital projects in development and production.
SERF is one of the most diversified Mechanical Companies in the Southeast, and includes a Professional Engineering Staff, Equipment Manufacturing Facilities, and site Construction Equipment housed in 2 plant sites with more than 41,000 sq ft of offices and shop facilities.
John Sullivan began his aerospace career 37 years ago, graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His first role was at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in analytical aerodynamics for jet engine compression and fan systems. In the next 17 years he expanded his aerodynamics and heat transfer expertise to include turbine systems, exhaust systems, inlets, and acoustics. He assisted development of 3D steady and unsteady aerodynamic analyses for jet engine components at Pratt & Whitney, Williams International and Pratt & Whitney Canada. During his career John has led major commercial aerospace programs, including budget and schedule accountability, and co-led major operations and manufacturing facilities. He has managed worldwide, distributed engineering teams. In the last 10 years, John held the position of VP Engineering at Collins Aerospace. In this assignment his responsibilities also included, driving continuous improvement, R&D, and diverse talent acquisition, development, and retention. He also chaired the Mechanical Systems, and the Collins Aerospace Product Safety Boards. John retired from Raytheon Corporation on July 1, 2020. He currently consults and serves on industry advisory boards. John holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in System Design and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has patents and has published technical papers in the areas of high speed compressor aerodynamics (AIAA 1990) and Organization Design (Thesis at MIT).
Dr. Karlin Toner is the Senior Advisor for Data Policy Integration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. She champions digital transformation by developing people, processes and products at the enterprise level. From 2014 to 2021, Dr. Toner served as the Director, Global Strategy where she provided direction on FAA’s engagement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure a unified U.S. presence for standards setting at ICAO Headquarters as well as regional implementation. Dr. Toner provided executive leadership in planning, directing and coordinating the FAA’s international strategy and for assessing risks and developing mitigations for threats to civil aviation outside the United States. Dr. Toner served as the Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) from 2010 to 2014. As the JPDO Director, Dr. Toner oversaw an interagency initiative charged with coordinating aerospace planning and policies for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). She served concurrently as an advisor to the Secretary of Transportation for NextGen coordination, a role she held since 2009. Prior to joining the FAA, Dr. Toner held various roles with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) including serving as Director of the Airspace Systems Program at NASA Headquarters from 2006 to 2008. Earlier, Dr. Toner held key positions in aerospace planning and research at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. Her work there included developing long-range technical and resources plans as the Associate Director for Aeronautics from 2005 to 2006. While at NASA, she was also a lecturer in the Aerospace Engineering Department at San Jose State University for four years. Dr. Toner holds doctoral and master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, along with an honorary doctoral degree in Science and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, is a recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Mr. Travers is a recognized leader and entrepreneur having successfully created significant value for investors via business acquisition, integration, and organic growth. Most recently, Mr. Travers oversaw the integration and growth of a private equity-backed platform http://www.BattleInvestmentGroup.com of companies focused on full lifecycle support services to the aerospace and defense market. ARCTOS, LLC http://www.ARCTOS-US.com is the result of the acquisition and integration of six companies, the majority of which were sourced and captured by Mr. Travers. As CEO of the platform and Operating Partner for the private investment group, Mr. Travers oversaw the growth of the company from 30 to 500 employees and diversification of its offerings from advanced science and technological support, to engineering and acquisition leadership for programs of national significance, to the hands-on support of critical missions and systems that directly impact war fighter readiness and ability. Prior to this, Mr. Travers lead the growth and maturity of a privately held engineering services company http://www.MEICompany.com from less than $40MM per year revenue to greater than $140MM. He entered MEI as a result of merger of his own company (Infoware Systems, Inc.) leading its growth initially as SVP of Corporate Development and later as CEO. His career began as an engineer supporting the launch campaigns at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center with ever increasing technical and managerial positions within the DoD, civilian, intelligence, and commercial space markets. Mr. Travers resides in Tampa, FL with his wife of 29 years, Rashonna, and enjoys supporting is alma mater, the University of
Florida, and all things outdoors.
Mitchell “Mitch” Waldman is the Principal of MBarnet Advisors, LLC, where he provides strategic and advisory services to clients in the aerospace and defense sector. He retired in the fall of 2021 from Huntington Ingalls Industries, where he served for over a decade as executive vice president of government and customer relations and was a member of the corporation’s management team. In that capacity, Waldman was responsible for helping to formulate corporate strategy and leading engagement with the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, business and trade associations, policy think-tanks, and academic institutions. From 2008 to 2011, Waldman was an executive with Northrop Grumman Corporation, serving as vice president of business development, advanced programs, and technology for Northrop Grumman’s aerospace systems sector. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Waldman served as national security advisor for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and as a national security consultant to the office of the Senate Majority Leader. Previously, Waldman served in several executive positions for the U.S. Navy, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (SHIPS), director of cost engineering and industrial analysis, and deputy program manager for Amphibious Warfare Programs. Waldman earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University. He is also a graduate of Yale University’s Executive Management Program and the
Defense Systems Management College Program Manager’s course. Waldman has also been honored with the U.S. Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the State of Mississippi Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and D.C. City Council of Engineering
Societies Architect of the Year award. He is currently a member of the Naval War College Foundation’s board of trustees, where he also serves as board secretary and chairman of the compensation subcommittee. Additionally, Waldman chairs the University of Florida’s mechanical and aerospace engineering External Advisory Board. He also serves on the board of directors for the Armed Services YMCA, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, and the National Bureau of Asian Research. Previously, Waldman served as a director on the board of BMT Designers and Planners.