RONALD L. HIGGS
5002 134th Place SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
Phone: (425) 614-4447
Email: higgsrl@aol.com
Program/Operations Management / Research & Development / Test & Evaluation
Proven and highly successful career Government Executive with current DOD security clearance and vast
experience in the highly effective management and execution of complex, multidisciplinary technical programs,
projects, and operations creating and maintaining industry leading results. Decision maker, problem solver, and
outstanding communicator with strong analytical skills. Experienced leader and team builder with demonstrated ability to
adapt to new and high pressure environments achieving organizational goals on time and within budget.
Key
competencies include:
Technical Project Management
Product & Technology R & D
Strategic Vision / Mission Planning
Systems Integration / Simplification
Continuing Process Improvement
Program Management
Customer / Client Partnering
Product Evaluation
Problem Solving
Leadership Development
Product Development
Training & Development
Product Testing
Government Liaison
Risk Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Consultant
Present
Tectura Corporation, Bellevue, WA
Senior Advisory Technical Business Analyst for Tectura Aerospace. Various responsibilities involving participation
as team member and program manager on multiple aerospace engineering programs for Tectura clients. Program
manager for prototype avionics installation and trial involving international clients. Led development, testing, and
production of hardware and software components across multiple sites.
Production Lead / Factory Representative
2004-2006
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Littleton, CO
Senior Government Representative, Integration and Test Lead, and Quality Assurance Lead. Monitored daily
production activities; responsible for daily hardware / software development, production, quality assurance, test
operations, and requirements verification for a multi-billion dollar DOD space system.
 Provided critical government oversight of all production activities at contractor manufacturing facility. Senior
government official on site; managed six cost accounts totaling over $250M; and supervised requirements verification
activities. Results: Verification of over 1000 contractual requirements prior to final acceptance of system ensuring
optimal performance and operational availability of a DOD satellite.
 Supervised a 75-member team in a two-month highly successful integration of a spacecraft to the launch vehicle
at the launch site. Spacecraft Manager - Supervised daily activities, verification efforts, anomaly resolution; and directed
quality assurance program. Results: Successful launch and deployment of fully functional spacecraft.
Deputy Program Manager
2000-2002
Air Antisubmarine Warfare Systems Program Office (PMA-264), Patuxent River, MD
IPT Leader, Special Projects Division, responsible for planning, budgeting, and executing several advanced
technology classified projects. Required continual liaison with Congressional staff members and senior Government
leadership. Led over 100 personnel at 12 sites with total budget in excess of $80M.
 Launched / Headed the start of a $9M Government program. Coordinated efforts of six separate organizations over
a one-year period to make the transition from research and development program to an acquisition program;
spearheaded aggressive promotion of product capabilities. Results: Delivery of increased weapons capabilities to
naval aircraft.
 Conceptualized / Developed / Deployed several web-based initiatives that increased communication and data
analysis between several worldwide locations. Innovated data sharing methodology and coordinated with widely
dispersed team. Results: Increased level and speed of communication, improved data sharing, reduced logistics
response time, and reduced data analysis times from 5-7 days to 24-48 hours.
Ronald L. Higgs: page 2
Department Head
1999-2000
Fleet Air Recon Squadron ONE, NAS Whidbey Island, WA
One of 12 senior administrators in a 600 member squadron with six multi-million dollar EP-3E aircraft. Shared
responsibility to commanding officer for daily squadron administration and operations involving worldwide reconnaissance
flights from several locations. Various leadership responsibilities in addition to aircrew duties.
Executive Liaison/Aide to the Commander
1997-1999
Naval Air Systems Command, NAS Patuxent River, MD
Flag Aide/Executive Liaison to the Commander, responsible for coordinating, planning, and executing daily activities,
travel, speech writing, and all logistics involving demanding daily schedule of a Vice Admiral. Tremendous learning
opportunity through exposure to senior leaders, high-level meetings, critical decisions, and daily processes of major
acquisition authority for all naval aircraft, and aviation-related weapons, sensor, and support systems.
Flight Instructor
1996-1997
United States Naval Test Pilot School, NAS Patuxent River, MD
Responsible for the education of U.S. and Foreign Military and civilian pilots, flight officers, and flight engineers
in the technology and techniques of fixed and rotary wing aircraft flying qualities, performance, systems testing, and
technical report writing. Exercise manager responsible for several exercises and associated annual budget.
Developmental Test Team Leader, Test Naval Flight Officer
1995-1996
Force Aircraft Test Squadron, NAS Patuxent River, MD
IPT Leader of several project test teams. Responsible for design inputs, system integration, flight test and evaluation
for 9 major avionics and software upgrades with combined budget of $5M. Planned/executed hundreds of ground test
and flight hours during integration of several avionics modifications into the S-3B aircraft.
EDUCATION
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
MS with Distinction, Systems Engineering and Analysis
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
BS, Mathematics (Operations Analysis)
OTHER TRAINING / EDUCATION
Naval Flight Officer, 2000 flight hours in multiple military aircraft
Mission Commander/Tactical Coordinator, S-3B Viking Aircraft
Graduate, United States Naval Test Pilot School
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III Certification, Program Management
DAWIA Level III Certification, Test and Evaluation
DAWIA Level II Certification, Systems Engineering
DAWIA Level II Training, Production and Manufacturing
ASSOCIATIONS / AFFILIATIONS
Member, Department of Defense Acquisition Corps
AWARDS / RECOGNITION
Defense Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Service during the Global War on Terrorism
Meritorious Service Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious Achievement as a Deputy Program Manager/IPT Leader
Northrop-Grumman Award for Leadership and Excellence in Systems Engineering
Wayne E. Meyer Award for Excellence in Systems Engineering
Special Recognition Award, General Dynamics C4 Systems
Recognition Award, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company Military Support Programs