Technology Executive
Strategic Leader

Senior Executive Program Director at Lockheed Martin. Professor of Cybersecurity at UMGC. Driving enterprise digital transformation, AI innovation, and operational excellence across aerospace and defense.

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About

Senior Executive Program Director

Strategy & OperationsDigital LeadershipPortfolio Execution

Visionary technology executive with 15+ years leading enterprise digital transformation in aerospace/defense and complex manufacturing environments. Proven in aligning IT/digital strategies with business objectives, delivering $500M+ in automation efficiencies, managing $90M+ budgets, and building high-performance teams of 200+. Expertise in emerging technologies (Generative AI, IoT, cloud) to drive innovation, cybersecurity, and operational excellence. Active Secret Clearance holder adept at navigating VUCA environments and partnering with C-suite stakeholders for sustainable growth.

Grokipedia Profile

Full-Spectrum Leadership

Command and leadership experience spanning software development, business transformation, government, education, manufacturing and industrial, semiconductor, robotics, IT, & automation industries.

Award-winning customer experience and service with track record of delivering tangible results in highly-volatile uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) situations. Serve as a mentor to high-performing teams centered on business outcomes for digital business and transformational strategies.

High-energy, hands-on executive with executive presence, C-suite competencies, and a history of optimizing organizational performance and savings in operational governance, automation, and business strategy leadership roles for start-ups, small and midsize businesses, and large enterprises.

Education

  • Indiana State University — Doctor of Philosophy, Management of Technology
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — M.S., Technology Management
  • University of Central Florida — B.S., Computer Science
  • International Institute for Management Development (IMD) — Executive Program in Digital and Business Transformation
  • Columbia University — Strategy Executive Program

Teaching

  • University of Maryland Global College — Professor, Graduate School of Technology
  • Florida Southern College — Lecturer, Management Information Systems
  • University of Central Florida — Lecturer, Management Information Systems

Leadership

  • Senior Member, Association of Computing & Machinery
  • Appointed LM ACM Liaison, Corporate Engineering & Technology Office
  • Tech America Committee on Technology Convergence, White House Office of Science and Technology
  • Forbes Technology Council, Member

Expertise & Innovation

A catalyst in the aerospace and defense industry, known for a series of innovative firsts.

Cloud Computing
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Quantum Computing
Blockchain
Cybersecurity
Industrial IoT
Digital Transformation

Industry Firsts

First AWS Partner to deploy GreenGrass/IOT Core on GovCloud
Deployed the Defense Industry's first Intelligent Factory
Designed & implemented first Blockchain electronic ledger for Lockheed Martin and industrial base
Designed & implemented the defense industry's first Hybrid Product Support Integration (HPSI) facility
Published the first doctoral dissertation on cloud computing
Deployed first x86 virtualization systems for Lockheed Martin
Designed Lockheed Martin's first Internet-facing portal in support of the National Reconnaissance Office
Implemented the largest Microsoft Exchange deployment ever

Publications & Speaking

Selected publications, articles, and presentations in technology, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

Google Scholar PublicationsACM Author PageSycamore Scholars Doctoral Dissertation

Nowhere to Hide: Monitoring Side Channels for Supply Chain Resiliency

IEEE Reliability Magazine · 2024

Professional Engineering Ethics, Risk, and Liability with Technology

NSPE Workability Wednesday (2023 Education Series) · 2023

Building the Factory of the Future With the Industrial Internet of Things

IEEE · 2022

Critical Steps in the Process for Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

IISE Annual Conference · 2021

Future of Data Analytics and AI in the Industrial Sector

IISE Annual Conference · 2021

Internet of Things in Business Transformation

Wiley (Book Chapter) · 2020

Maynard Handbook for Industrial and Systems Engineering

IISE (Book Chapter) · 2020

New Intelligent Factory Network Comes to Life

Lockheed Martin · 2020

The Impact of Right to be Forgotten on Deep Neural Networks

Research Publication · 2020

The Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Professionalism

IEEE IT Professional · 2019

Advisory Board

Serving on advisory and research boards across national security, academia, and industry.

Florida Institute of National Security (FINS)

Research Advisor

Operations Science Institute

Board Member

University of Central Florida

Advisory Board Member

Robert Morris University

Board Member

Awards & Recognition

Recognized across the defense industry, academia, and technology community.

Dallas 500 Innovative Leaders

D-CEO Magazine

NOVA Award — Business Continuity and Resiliency

Lockheed Martin

Drazek Award for Teaching Excellence

University

Excellence Award — Intelligent Factory

Lockheed Martin

AeroStar Award — CodeQuest Student Programming Competition

5-year volunteer, grew from 150 students in Texas to 843+ worldwide

Enterprise Business Services Catalyst

Top 10 catalyst leader for 4,000-person organization

Lockheed Martin Excellence Award

Transformed Aero IT engagement model with JSF/F-35 program

Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO)

EC-Council

Advanced Systems Architect, Cyber

Top 1% of Lockheed Martin employees

IBM Champion Award Finalist

Recognized innovative thought leader

ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Nominee

Association of Computing and Machinery (National Award)

ISE Central Award Project Nominee

Information Security Executive (National Award)

Resume

15+ years driving enterprise digital transformation across aerospace, defense, and complex manufacturing environments.

Download PDF

Professional Experience

AI, Automation, and Digital Infrastructure Lead

2019 – Present

Fort Worth, TX

Program Director

Technology Office executive responsible for strategic oversight of digital services consisting of traditional and digital platforms. Partner with cross-functional teams to direct data-driven strategies for a $6B+ transformational initiative.

  • ▸Directed enterprise-wide digital transformation for $6B+ initiative, delivering $503M in automation savings and 30% spending reductions.
  • ▸Built and led 200+ person global technology organization managing $90M budget (<1% variance) and 100+ applications.
  • ▸Developed Intelligent Factory Framework integrating Generative AI, IoT, and cloud platforms.
  • ▸Launched enterprise citizen innovation program, certifying 600+ innovators and growing patent portfolio.

Application Services

2014 – 2019

Fort Worth, TX

Senior Manager, Application Services

Portfolio management for Aeronautics Strategic Business including shared services, quality systems, configuration management, DevOps, test automation, agile program management, and hybrid cloud computing. Managed $12M budget.

  • ▸Designed and implemented first Hyperledger Blockchain instance for LM centered on DevOps methodologies.
  • ▸Created strategic roadmap for cross-functional lines of business to prioritize program funding.
  • ▸Reduced F-35 aircraft sustainment cycle time from 20 days to 3 days.
  • ▸Strategic driver for cloud computing initiative — Digital Tapestry (IoT) and Automation capabilities.

Prior Professional Roles

Pre-2014

Orlando, FL

Individual Contributor

Served as Chief Engineer, systems architect, and performance computing lead on external-facing B2B services, SaaS, Identity Management, and Cybersecurity services. Program deployments across F-35, C-130J, C-5, F-22, F-16, JASSM, NRO, SPO, and ADP.

Signature Competencies

Strategic

  • ▸Organizational Vision & Strategy
  • ▸Corporate Governance
  • ▸Transformational Change
  • ▸Metrics / KPIs / OKRs
  • ▸Board of Directors Engagement
  • ▸Risk Management
  • ▸Active Secret Clearance

Emerging Technology

  • ▸Generative AI / LLM / MCP / Agentic
  • ▸Hybrid Cloud (AWS / Azure / GCP)
  • ▸IoT / Industrial IoT
  • ▸GitLab, DevOps, Jira, Atlassian
  • ▸ServiceNow, Digital Ledger
  • ▸Anthropic, OpenAI
  • ▸Growth Mindset & Innovation

Leadership & Governance

  • ▸IT Governance
  • ▸Cybersecurity, Security+
  • ▸Metrics-driven Performance
  • ▸Budget & Schedule Management
  • ▸Process Modeling / Mining
  • ▸Open Source & Supply Chain
  • ▸Relationship Management

Education & Professional Development

Indiana State University

PhD, Cloud Computing & Digital Communications

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

MS, Management of Technology

University of Central Florida

BS, Computer Science & MIS

IMD

Executive Digital Transformation Program

Columbia University

Executive Strategy Program

Thought Leadership

Perspectives on emerging technology, strategic leadership, and the future of digital transformation.

Explore Thought Leadership →

Resource Library

Practical worksheets to clarify your purpose, shape your career, and turn transformation goals into action.

Mission Model

Clarify your purpose, the people you serve, and the impact you want to create.

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Career Vision

Define the work, contribution, and professional life you want to build.

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Transformation Objectives

Turn an ambition into measurable outcomes, ownership, and concrete next steps.

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Career Planning Guide

Create a practical 90-day plan for learning, relationships, and career progress.

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Contact

Interested in collaborating, speaking engagements, or just want to connect? Reach out below.

Let's Connect

LinkedIn

Connect professionally

X (Twitter)

@jeffdaniels

Email

jeff.w.daniels@gmail.com

Areas of Interest

Speaking EngagementsAcademic CollaborationResearch PartnershipsAdvisory RolesTechnology Consulting