JD serves as Interim Director of the Applied Systems Laboratory (ASL) and Executive Director of the Huntsville Research Center (HRC) located in Huntsville, AL. JD is currently overseeing a substantial reorganization to ensure expanded support to ASL’s sponsors as well as identifying new opportunities to collaborate across GTRI.

JD has over 27 years of experience in both military and civilian business and has been with GTRI since opening and managing their Patuxent (Pax) River Field Office supporting GTRI’s Naval Aviation sponsors in 2013. In 2017 he was promoted to Associate Director at GTRI’s Electronic Systems Laboratory and from 2018 to 2019, he temporarily served as Interim GTRI Deputy Director and Director of the Electronics, Optics, and Systems Directorate while a permanent candidate was sought. Prior to GTRI, JD supported the PMA275 V-22 Joint Program Office as “Future Capabilities” lead, PMA272 Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protections Systems as “Flight Plan” lead, and the PMA265 EA-18G program where he developed the first EA-18G Roadmap and “Flight Plan”. As a NAVAIR Reservist, JD has deployed to Afghanistan supporting Air 4.5X as a UAS detachment Officer in Charge, was recalled to active duty for a 15-month tour supporting PMA265 as the Royal Australian Air Force Foreign Military Sales Military Lead, and more recently was mobilized to Japan to support classified testing as the Special Programs Director with an EA-18G squadron.

JD began his Navy career at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command in Orlando, FL where he underwent Nuclear Field Electrician’s Mate instruction. He graduated at the top of his class and received orders to Officer Candidate School to enter the Naval Flight Officer pipeline. After 10 years of Active Duty primarily flying the EA-6B Prowler as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) and serving as an Instructor at the Electronic Attack Weapons School at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA, JD transitioned to the Reserves where he continued to fly the Prowler with VAQ-209 out of Joint Base Andrews, Washington, D.C. until 2010. From 2010 until 2021, JD served with the NAVAIR Reserve Program. JD has completed 8 combat and 3 non-combat deployments (between Active Duty and Reserves) and retired with the rank of O-5 / Commander with the Navy Reserves.

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