Zachary Kennan

Experience

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  U.S. Navy Flight School Training

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2008

  Student Pilot

  Completed Fleet Replacement Student Pilot training at Helicopter Sea Combat 2 (HSC-2) in Norfolk, VA, earning MH-60S flight qualification. Also completed advanced flight training with Training Air Wing Five in Milton, FL and primary flight training with Training Air Wing Four in Corpus Christi, TX.

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  Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 (HSC-26)

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2011

  Assistant Training Officer / Maintenance Program Manager / Pilot

  Managed two maintenance programs, each surpassing annual wing maintenance inspection and supervised 30+ personnel overseeing daily aircraft recovery/launches and maintenance preparation work, ensuring 15 MH-60S aircraft were 100% mission ready.Accomplishments included:** Oversaw flight qualifications and weapons training program for squadron of 430 personnel and directly administered flight hours training budget.** Executed transition of weapons and tactics program training plan and served as detachment quality assurance officer during seven-month deployment aboard a US Naval supply ship, leading to 500+ mishap-free flight hours.** Significantly contributed to successful completion of 7.2K flight hours and squadron’s second consecutive Sikorsky “Golden Wrench” award, presented annually to squadron demonstrating unsurpassed safety program management.Also served as Division Officer, overseeing 15+ personnel maintaining squadron facilities and coordinating events. Accomplishments in this role included:** Developed extensive partnership with base public works to facilitate completion of 50+ maintenance actions and planned and executed 10 improvement projects without incurring additional cost.** Organized Naval Helicopter Association annual conference attended by 2K+ personnel. Show less

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  Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1)

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2013

  Operational Test Director for Airborne Mine Neutralization System / Pilot

  As Operational Test Director for AMNS, directed ACAT 1 and ACAT IV acquisition test programs with combined budget of $6M+ and led 35 personnel in planning, execution, and data collection of all operational test and evaluation activities.Accomplishments included:** Hand selected as sole Operational Test Director representative on three-month long Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR)’s annual test plan process improvement team.** Collaborated with several deputy directors to refine techniques and framework for entire operational test process and implemented measures of effectiveness tied to key performance parameters and critical operational issues to be utilized by test planning teams moving forward.Also served as Assistant Operational Test Director for Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and Rotary Wing NATOPS /Training Officer. Accomplishments in those roles included:** Created operational assessment test plan and oversaw execution of all operational test and evaluation activities for ALMDS program while administering $3.6M budget and completing 16 mission sets comprised of 58 test events.** Managed squadron’s NATOPS training program encompassing six different aircraft model types and led 24 pilots and 16 aircrew through successful MH-60 unit NATOPS training program and annual evaluation.** Developed content for squadron standard operation procedures guidebook, including refinement of night training currency qualification, addition of Airborne Mine Countermeasures currencies ALMDS and AMNS, adding definition for crew rest day, improving H-60 static display checklist, and collaborating with senior leadership to approve and publish these changes. Show less

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  Air Test and Evaluation 21 (HX-21)

  Jan 2013 - Oct 2014

  Safety Manager and Pilot – Developmental Flight Test Squadron

  Manage flight safety program and promote aircraft mishap prevention for developmental test squadron comprised of 28+ Navy and Marine Corps aircraft consisting of 11 different aircraft model types; squadron has completed 600+ mishap-free flight hours under direction.Accomplishments include:** Leading squadron’s Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures (NATOPS) Standardization program and organizing two NATOPS evaluations to date; both completed with no major discrepancies.** Reviewing multiple developmental test plans to ensure compliance with applicable directives, operational risk management, and flight test discipline.** Conducting MH-60 helicopter airborne mine countermeasures flight and simulator test events, including Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) and Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) simulator software testing in San Diego, CA and ALMDS flight operations and training in Norfolk, VA, leading to rapid delivery of program test technologies to the entire Navy. Show less

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  Ausley Associates, Inc.

  Oct 2014 - now

  Deputy Program Manager / Senior Engineer
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  US Navy Reserve

  May 2015 - now

  Project Lead & Training Officer - NAVAIR Reseve Program (NRP)

  - Directs NAVAIR Reserve officer support for Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office (PMA-268) and Human Systems Integration (HSI) for the MQ-25 Stingray.- Manages Navy and NAVAIR training requirements for over 30 reserve officers.

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  US Navy

  May 2018 - now

  Requirements Manager