Hugh Gordon

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1999

  Communications │ Trusted Advisor │ Policy Management │ Strategic Planning Maintained continuity in relationship between customers and providers in a role that required exceptional communication abilities, diplomacy and credibility. Coordinated numerous meetings between senior management and senior Department of Defense officials to ensure policy and strategy needs for defense of Korean peninsula. LiaisonLed multiple tours to the demilitarized zone for top executives. Coordinated briefings and force protection for visiting executives. Provided direct visibility of tensions always present in South Korea. Show less Infrastructure Design │ Cross-functional Team Management│ CommunicationsLed a team of 51 military and civilian personnel responsible for the management and control of air mobility operations and infrastructure. Workforce ManagementLed Emergency Action Group through a 50% cut in workforce. Ensured complete 24-hour coverage through augmentation plan using reserves.LiaisonLiaison to US European Command during a significant joint military operation. Improved communications allowing customer to better define requirements maximizing use of scarce lift assets. Show less Training and Evaluations │ Courseware Development │ Team Leadership │ New Hire Oversight Led USAF’s only C-5 Formal Schoolhouse with 250 operations and maintenance personnel. Organization trained approximately 650 students per year. Directed pilot activities and training, executed training following courseware, and proposed changes/improvements to courseware. Conducted regular flight evaluations of pilots, led instructor meetings and monitored new instructors’ progress. Business Transformation Planned/led smooth transition and related onboarding and change management activities for incorporating maintenance function into the flying unit requiring expansion from 55 to 250 personnel.Organizational RestructuresSteered organization through major restructuring placing training organization into the USAF’s Air Education and Training Command while meeting a 27% increase in student production.Change AgentImproved C-5 reliability from “worst to first” in 90 days by making leadership changes in the maintenance unit and establishing a program for adding 100 temporary personnel. Show less

  • US Transportation Command Liaison Officer to US Forces Korea │ Relationship Development

    Jan 1997 - Jan 1999

  • Chief America’s Operation Division │ Team Leadership │ Operational Control

    Jan 1994 - Jan 1997

  • Commander, 56th Airlift Squadron (Instructor/Evaluator) │ Operational Leadership

    Jan 1992 - Jan 1994
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  United States Air Force

  Jul 1999 - Jan 2001

  Career Overview: Completed pilot training, flew at operational level for 16 years. Progressed through a series of key staff and leadership positions in operations and training at Air Force bases in New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Oklahoma, North Carolina and South Korea.Environmental Safety Initiatives │ Transformation Roadmaps │ Talent Development Second in command of this formal air mobility schoolhouse base with 3,000 employees. Co-Managed multimillion-dollar budget and supervised overall base activities including infrastructure and operations. Mentored/groomed future leaders.Operational LeadershipExecutive in charge of securing Altus AFB, its infrastructure and aircraft in response to the terrorist attacks and closure of the National Aerospace System on 9/11. Led smooth transition in securing the base then returning to normal operations with minimal impact on student production.Committee InvolvementChaired Environmental Protection Committee and fostered excellent rapport with government agency to contain and remediate an environmental hazard on base. Show less Event Planning │ Strategic Design, Development and Implementation │ Military SolutionsSecond in command of 1,400 employees responsible for rapidly deploying Army combat capability during times of national crisis. Co-managed multimillion-dollar Flying Hour Program and operations and maintenance budget. StartupsCreated Air Force’s first Lead Mobility Wing, a startup organization for a new concept designed to set up the necessary infrastructure abroad for forward deployment/return of military capability in austere locations; set benchmark and authored blueprint for four subsequent Lead Mobility Wings.Crisis ManagementMarshalled hurricane evacuation missions launching all 21 aircraft out of storm’s path and quickly reconstituted with minimal impact on organization’s objectives.Team MemberKey member of team that planned and executed biennial national flying skills competition, which was lauded by senior management as best event of its kind in organization’s history. Show less

  • Vice Wing Commander │ Strategic Organizational Planning │ Budget Management │ Mentor

    Jan 2000 - Jan 2001

  • Deputy Operations Group Commander │ Combat Readiness │ Operations and Budget Management

    Jul 1999 - Dec 2000
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  FedEx Express

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2018

  Captain/Pilot-In-Command │ First Officer │ Second Officer │ Team Leadership

  Captain/Pilot-In-Command (2015 – 2018); First Officer (2005 – 2015); Second Officer (2001 – 2005)Critical Thinking │ Strategic Solution │ Team Building │ FAA │ ICAO │ Training │ Report GenerationInitially qualified as a Second Officer on B727 and DC10 aircraft; moved to First Officer position (MD11 and B777) flying domestic and international routes, and advanced to Captain in the Airbus A300 flying domestically. As PIC, built and led flight teams, set the tone for the flight, ensured safety parameters met (weather, mechanics, safety of aircraft), and made time-critical decisions.Safety ProtocolExecuted each flight safely and effectively for safe cargo movement worldwide under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules. MentorMentored and completed probationary reports for new pilots.Goal OrientedCompleted 2,200+ flights for 7,900+ hours without incident.US Air ForceUS and Korea Career Overview: Completed pilot training, flew at operational level for 16 years. Progressed through a series of key staff and leadership positions in operations and training at Air Force bases in New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Oklahoma, North Carolina and South Korea. Show less

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  Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

  Apr 2019 - Apr 2020

  Volunteer

  Working at the Customer Information Center on the USS Yorktown. Providing information to visitors to enhance their tour experience of the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown, Destroyer USS Laffey, Submarine USS Clamagore, and the Vietnam Experience Exhibit.

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  Rush Bowls

  May 2020 - Apr 2023

  Franchise Owner

  Rush Bowls is a fast-casual restaurant specializing in blended acai/fruit and vegetable bowls and smoothies. Healthy, all natural ingredients blended into a smooth, creamy texture. Non-GMO with no artificial sweeteners or added sugar. Bowls topped with granola and honey in a 16 oz cup. Smoothies blended to a creamy drinkable texture served in a 24 oz cup. Enough protein to count as a meal replacement. We can meet dietary restrictions; vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free.