Jeff is a Board member of Albers Aerospace as well as a Senior Advisor for Iron Gate Capital.  He is a seasoned aerospace and defense executive with nearly 40 years of leading the development production and operation of the most advanced air and spacecraft in the world. Experienced in all aspects of Leadership, Engineering and Operations, from startups to the largest aerospace primes.

Jeff most recently was the Chief Operating Officer for Sierra Space. As the COO Jeff was responsible for implementing an innovative new digital environment from engineering through final product delivery.  He was responsible for final assembly and test of the revolutionary, Dream Chaser space plane.  During his tenure the company valuation increased by more than 50% to $6B.

Prior to Sierra Space, Jeff had a 30-year career at Lockheed Martin.  His roles spanned from engineering, initial design, test, production and sustainment of some of the world’s most iconic aircraft.

In his final role at Lockheed Martin, Jeff led the iconic Skunk Works operation. He led the business to a record $3B in orders, an increase of 5x in 3 years.  Overseeing the largest business expansion in more than 30 years, investing more than $400m, in state-of-the-art manufacturing, offices, and test facilities.

Prior to the Skunk Works, Jeff was the VP and GM of the F-35 program where he built the operation into a $15B, worldwide enterprise.  Providing the world’s most advance multi-role fighter aircraft to the US AirForce, Navy and Marine Corp as well as the Airforce’s of more than a dozen international customers.

Jeff also was the VP and GM for the Integrated Fighter Group, a business unit responsible for all aspects of the F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

He earned a BS in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Tennessee.   Jeff and his wife Mary live in Kennesaw, GA near their 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.

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