Professional Summary

Experienced business and technology leader, over 30 years directing advanced technology, engineering, and R&D programs for DoD, DOE, and commercial clients. Proven expertise managing complex system development across the full lifecycle, leading programs valued at $1M – $700M. Led the capture of $923M in competitive contracts. Recognized for turning around struggling/failing programs, building high-performing PMOs, effectively integrating systems engineering and program management for complex systems and programs, implementing compliant EVM systems, and delivering strategic capture leadership — all while maintaining strict federal compliance (FAR/DFARS, DCMA, DCAA).

Clearance  Active DoD Secret | TS-Eligible

Availability Immediate for short- or long-term engagements in San Diego and nationwide (hybrid or on-site).

Customers

Programs & Technologies

Program Turnaround & Recovery

Projecting schedule delays and overruns? Or, have an important supplier that’s just not getting it done?As the adage goes, "bad news does not get better with age". Early intervention is essential for ensuring recovery.I've lead the recovery of numerous programs ranging value from $1-2M to over $700M under both formal (OTB/OTS) and informal processes.If you have a troublesome program, contact me now to get started getting your program back on track.

Key Services Offered:

  1. “Impossible-problem” Analysis – analysis of current status, conditions and likely outcome(s). Is it an impossible to problem to solve? Imagination and ingenuity can often change what looks like an “impossible problem” into a success of a different kind.

  2. Root-cause Analysis – analysis of contract documents, execution plan and organizational capabilities to determine your obligations and your ability to meet them.

  3. Recovery Planning - strategic options analysis, development of substantiated "executable" plan, plan socialization and customer discussions, contract negotiations, etc.

  4. Monitoring & Reporting Infrastructure – collecting, aggregating and analyzing the right data to “see” how well your programs are working. Developing data processes, selecting and deploying the right tools; and validating high fidelity data flows and results.

  5. Tailored Guidance & Training – guidance and training on detecting when programs start going "off the rails" and idenifying/addressing root causes tailored to your business needs.

Strategic Capture & Proposals

Capture & Proposals are significant investments of time and money.Maximize your win-rate and build your backlog by engaging your customers early, shaping your offer effectively and submitting compelling, competitive & compliant proposals.I’ve led over three dozen proposal efforts that have led to over $900M in federal awards for various complex, high-technology systems and programs.If you’re planning to pursue important opportunities, contact me now for guidance and assistance tailored to your needs and opportunities.

Key Services Offered:

  1. Shaping & Engagement – define your core value proposition and engage customers & stakeholders early and often to ensure your offer and capabilities are viewed as high-value.

  2. Win Strategies – know your competitors as well as your customers to ensure yours is a demonstrably winning proposal. Competitive analyses, benchmarking, “black hatting”, price-to-win, etc.

  3. Solicitation Analysis & Compliance – solicitation analysis; compliance requirements analysis & allocation; compliance matrix/checklist definition; and compliance review.

  4. Proposal Preparation, Review and Submission – proposal planning & status reporting; proposal volume preparation and supporting documentation (i.e. technical & business volumes; WBS, SOW Tech Approach, BoEs, IMP/IMS, risk management, etc.); proposal reviews (i.e. color Teams); and, signoff & submission.

  5. Tailored Guidance & Training – pursuit, capture and proposal guidance and training tailored to your business needs.

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Is EVM a best practice? Or, just another onerous, big government program requirement?Whether it’s your customer, your leadership or other key stakeholders, they want to know:

  1. Are you on-track to meet all requirements and deliver on-time and on-budget?

  2. How do you know?

  3. What adjustments need to be made to ensure program success?

EVM is a framework for collecting the data to answer these questions. However, effective use typically requires an experienced, tailored approach.I’ve successfully managed dozens of programs in the public and private sectors worth over $1B over 25 years and have found EVM, when appropriately applied, to be an effective method of monitoring and reporting program execution performance. It doesn’t have to onerous or complicated.If you’re ready to improve the performance of your programs and enterprise, contact me to discuss how best to tailor and use EV principles and practices.

Key Services Offered:

  1. Underlying Principles – selecting the "right" unit of value (e.g. work-based, scope-based, performance-based or other); time-phased value; earned value math & metrics; trend analysis; using EV for root-cause & scenario analysis; etc.

  2. Setup & Preparation – WBSs & Dictionaries; acceptance criteria analysis; cost & acceptance criteria allocation; dependency networks & time-phasing; program data collection, analysis and reporting.

  3. Processes & Tools – program planning for EV; scope definition & documentation; acceptance criteria definition, documentation & tracking; cost allocation, tracking & reporting; S-curves & trend analysis; variances & variance analysis; commercial EV tools; general tools (i.e. accounting, scheduling & requirements management); desktop & home-grown tools.

  4. Compliance with Applicable Standards – ensure processes & tools comply with applicable standards from the ANSI/EIA, FARs, DFARS, DCAA, DCMA, HHS and others.

  5. Tailored Guidance & Training – guidance and training on the underlying principles, processes and tools of EVM tailored to your business needs.

PMO Optimization & Optimization

Many programs and projects? Each reporting in different ways with different metrics making it difficult to understand aggregate status and performance?It might be time to standardize your program management methods, processes & tools to provide an enterprise-wide foundation for program management, streamline execution and emphasize effective practices.Over 25 years of program management I’ve setup processes & procedures and trained program management Teams in half a dozen organizations of various types including large defense primes, big science, commercial manufacturing and start-ups.If you’re ready to standardize and streamline your Program Management processes to improve fidelity and efficiency, contact me now for guidance and assistance in pulling it all together!

Key Services Offered:

  1. Governance & Standards – establish and maintain program management principles, policies, standards & best practices tailored as needed to your organizational needs.

  2. Program Management Processes – develop and manage standardized program management processes for: program planning, scheduling & budgeting; resource allocation, assignment, management & optimization; performance monitoring, analysis and reporting; risk, opportunity, issue and change management; business criteria & standards; training, mentoring and knowledge management; etc.

  3. Program Management Tools – select, deploy and maintain program management systems & tools; and, equip & train program managers, CFTs/IPTs and other users & stakeholders.

  4. Program Management Support & Expertise – establish & staff a program management support function; provide periodic training & subject matter refresh; and, manage & maintain access to relevant experience and expertise (i.e. expert staff, services, consultants, etc.).

  5. Tailored Guidance & Training – guidance and training on setting up an effective PMO and Program Management subject matter.

Complex Systems & Programs

You’ve come up with a great idea, invention or technology. Now you’ve got to figure out how cross the “valley of death” by converting it into a system with marketable value to end-users in the real world.Developing complex systems to solve real-world problems is both fun and challenging and various frameworks have been developed by organizations like the DOD, NASA, INCOSE and others to deal with development complexity and improve development efficiencies. Effective use of these frameworks and others, however, often requires experienced-based tailoring.I have employed Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering over 25 years in the successful development of more than a dozen complex systems including: supersonic electromagnetic launch (Railgun); large format metal-LPBF 3D printers; classified seafloor cabled networks; advanced power and propulsion technologies and others.If you plan to pursue a complex system development or are struggling with system complexity, contact me for assistance in how to frame the “problem” and tailor the application of proven systems thinking and engineering best practices and tools.

Key Services Offered:

  1. Systems Thinking – is concerned with the evaluation of value-constellation interfaces & integrability (aka “platform”-effects); synergisms (aka flywheel effects); anti-synergisms (aka disruptive effects); regulatory constraints, and others, to ensure the development of effective and affordable systems when released to the world at large.

  2. Systems Engineering – is a proven, methodical approach to developing, deploying and supporting complex systems. However, there is no one-size fits all framework and effective application requires experienced tailoring.

  3. Maturity Levels & their Business Impacts – realistic estimates of system maturity levels e.g. TRLs, MRLs, SRLs, TUMs and others, have a significant impact on crafting executable program strategies and plans; risk assessment and lifecycle profitability.

  4. System Lifecycle Support – getting set-up for customer support, spares, maintenance, repair, logistics, training and other supporting products & services.

  5. Tailored Guidance & Training – guidance and training on the use of systems thinking and engineering best practices to avoid technological surprise and ensure the development of effective and affordable systems.

Program Management Consulting

So many “new” program management tools, processes and certifications to choose from! Which ones are “right” for you? How do you know they will be effective for your business?Program management is, fundamentally, a people-centered endeavor. It’s about organizing and leading Teams of people in the performance of work that:

  1. Generates expected or required results (i.e. scope)...

  2. Within a specified time (i.e. the schedule/PoP); and,...

  3. For a specified cost or price (i.e. budget).

Lose sight of the “core” at your peril.I’ve successfully managed dozens of programs in the public and private sectors collectively worth over $1B over 25 years. I haven’t “seen it all”, but I have seen a lot and am ready to share what I've found works and what doesn't.If you’re a start-up focused on growing your business, an established organization “living the dream”, a PMO building a world-class capability, or somewhere in between and need to establish, grow or improve your Program Management capabilities and performance, contact me now to discuss how to tailor the many tools & techniques available to your needs.

Key Services Offered:

  1. Core Management Functions – effective & executable plan development; status & performance monitoring; and, execution leadership with integrity to help your Teams produce their very best.

  2. Management Processes & Infrastructure – business and business needs analysis; identification and adaptation of the “right” program management processes, balancing cost, ease-of-use and utility; and, tool selection, deployment, training and adoption.

  3. Program Management Leadership – building effective Teams; building trust; ensuring your Teams know what they are responsible for, by when; ensuring your Teams are properly equipped; finding and removing blockers; effectively reporting issues and other “bad news”; etc.

  4. Tailored Guidance & Training – tailored guidance and training to help your PMs and PMO meet the needs of your organization, effectively and affordably.