Innovating Defense: Leadership, AI, And Resilience

Professional Journey and Role at Curtiss-Wright

I am the Chief Technology Officer at Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division and a Curtiss-Wright Technical Fellow. I joined with PacStar, now part of Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, over 16 years ago. During this time, I have supported the development of our rugged, tactical hardware and IQCore software, and served as a subject matter expert in compute, virtualization, and virtualized network functions. My team and I have contributed to numerous DOD tactical programs, including the U.S. Army T2C2, SFAB, ESB-E, PM TN Secure Wireless Small Form Factor, PEO-C3T TCNO, and the Marine Corps NOTM vehicle-mount and deployable communications programs.

As CTO, I collaborate closely with internal engineering, sales, business development, and marketing teams, as well as best-in-class partners in networking and cybersecurity. My focus is on integrating cutting-edge communication, data processing, AI/ML, and cybersecurity technologies into Curtiss-Wright’s extensive portfolio of ruggedized hardware for the DoD.

Prior to joining PacStar, I worked at Biamp, a leading provider of audio processing equipment for large-scale installations such as convention centers and stadiums. I studied mechanical engineering and computer science at Oregon State University and hold multiple professional certifications from VMware (Data Center Administration) and Cisco (Design, Security, Routing & Switching), as well as security certifications from EC Council and ISC2

Strategies To Mitigate Technology And Downtime Risks

Ensuring operational reliability in mission-critical environments is at the core of what we do. We take a multi-layered approach to minimizing risks:

Product Design: Although we primarily design and sell COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) products, we recognize that many customers rely on our solutions in rugged field conditions. Our design process begins with a deep understanding of end-use requirements, follows stringent engineering methodologies, and incorporates external validation to standards such as MIL STD-810H.

Quality and Operational Excellence: Our Portland, Oregon facility earned AS9100 certification in 2024, joining most other CurtissWright business units and aligning us with the highest aerospace industry standards. Our quality control process includes incoming part inspections, in-process assembly reviews, and both automated and manual testing for every unit we ship. In addition, we use Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) to detect early failures by operating products under extreme conditions.

“Creating A Lasting Impact Comes Down To One Thing: Team Building. The Best Leaders Invest In Their Teams, Fostering Growth, Collaboration, And Innovation To Drive Meaningful Change In The Industry”

Integrated Solutions and Ease of Use: Hardware reliability alone isn’t enough—human factors play a significant role in maintaining system uptime. Our team of system and network engineers works directly with customers to validate designs and optimize configurations. We also provide preloaded software and automation tools to standardize system setups, minimizing the risk of human error.

Support & Maintenance: We go beyond product delivery by offering IQ-Core Software, an intuitive management platform designed for the warfighter. This software simplifies network operations, reduces training burdens, prevents configuration drift, and streamlines updates. Additionally, our highly trained support engineers are available 24/7 to assist with any field issues.

Geopolitical Impact On Technology Strategies & Investments

The DOD’s strategic focus on countering near-peer adversaries within the 2027–2030 timeframe is shaping our technology investments. We are prioritizing advancements in:

• Transport diversity to enhance resilient, redundant communications in contested environments.

• Edge processing and AI/ML for faster, more autonomous decision-making in the field.

• Edge and disconnected cloud solutions to ensure secure, decentralized data access.

• Enhanced cyber security measures, such as Zero Trust architectures and NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) programs.

• Additionally, ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East highlight the rapid evolution of warfare. As a result, we are refining the electromagnetic interference (EMI/ EMF) characteristics of our products and streamlining field deployment processes to support rapid command post mobility.

Navigating Compliance, Security, and Data Protection

Navigating regulatory compliance is a team effort at Curtiss-Wright. While I play an advisory role as CTO, we have dedicated teams specializing in legal, export control, operational security, IT, and cybersecurity. With over 95 years of experience supplying the DOD and the aerospace industry, we have honed our compliance processes to a science. Our robust internal governance framework ensures we stay ahead of evolving regulations while maintaining the highest levels of data protection and operational security.

AI & ML In Aerospace And Defense

A colleague once compared AI to barbecue sauce—you spread it over everything to make it better. While the potential is vast, implementation requires a strategic, structured approach. Our focus on AI/ML revolves around three key areas:

Hardware: Curtiss-Wright develops ruggedized computing solutions—including CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs—optimized for AI inference at the edge. We continually push the limits of performance while maintaining a size, weight, and power (SWaP) profile suitable for deployment in tactical environments.

Education & Implementation: Many organizations want to leverage AI/ML, but few have the expertise to do so effectively in defense applications. We invest in knowledge-sharing through white papers, conference presentations, and direct customer engagement. A guiding principle that I emphasize is “You can’t automate what you can’t document.” Successful AI deployment requires clearly defining objectives, collecting meaningful data, and establishing criteria to validate AIdriven decisions. Even in a “human-in-the-loop” model, the human must be adequately trained to interpret and challenge AI outputs.

Partnerships: The AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with new companies and technologies emerging daily. Our subject matter experts continuously evaluate new and existing partners to integrate the most innovative and reliable AI/ML solutions into our offerings.

Guidance For Future Aerospace And Defense Leaders

Creating a lasting impact in any industry comes down to one thing: team building. No significant achievement happens in isolation. The best leaders invest in their teams, fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation.

 For those entering the industry, I offer three key pieces of advice:

• Step outside your comfort zone. Too often, I see young professionals avoid challenging assignments because they feel unprepared. The reality is that if you’re working on cuttingedge technology, no one has all the answers. Growth comes from taking on challenges and figuring things out along the way.

• Seek mentorship and guidance. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from senior leaders. Most experienced professionals are more than willing to share insights if approached with genuine curiosity.

• Embrace failure as part of learning. Innovation requires experimentation, and with that comes occasional failure. What matters is how you adapt, learn, and improve.

• At the end of the day, if you focus on building great teams and tackling tough problems with persistence and creativity, people will take notice.