Brad Sutter

Experience

• 

  Gentex Corp.

  May 1991 - Apr 2006

  Sr. Manager of Product Engineering

  • Managed all technical aspects of the five year $50 million, U.S. Marine Corps Ballistic Helmet Program including transition to production and all manufacturing processes and procedures. • Responsible for the design, development and proposal preparation for a commercially-available Tactical Ballistic Helmet and U.S. Army Advanced Combat Helmet, resulting in contract awards of over $46 million. • Successfully managed Quality Control department responsible for DD250s, incoming receiving and inspections, and quality metrics.• Efficiently increased organizational capabilities by creating and implementing training programs for the engineering staff encompassing 3-Dimensional Computer Aided.• Design/Drafting, Design of Experiments, Root Cause Analysis, Finite Element Analysis, and Design for Manufacturing.• Major team member in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing Processes/Lines and ISO certification.• Led a plan for improvements in product/process capabilities by establishing vendor and academia relationships through creation of Capstone Projects, CRADA's, SBIR's, and Consortium Memberships.• Led an effort to automate helmet composite manufacturing by personally seeking out a new process, developing statement of work, creating project cost accounts, and implementing new manufacturing line. Show less

• 

  BAE Systems

  Apr 2006 - May 2007

  Director of Engineering

  • Directed a staff of Scientists, Engineering Professionals, and Technicians in multiple geographic locations with responsibility for the following product lines: Helmets, Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI), Body Armor, Parachutes, and Floatation Collars.• Established technical relationships with customers through performance based SPC reporting, resulting in higher customer confidence levels. • Qualified through First Article Testing Ballistic Helmets for manufacturing at multiple facilities.• Developed and qualified a hybrid material Body Armor resulting in a higher performing, reduced cost design. Show less

• 

  Orbital Sciences Corporation is now Orbital ATK!

  Jun 2007 - Nov 2008

  Propulsion Engineering Manager

  • Management of 20+ engineers in the design, development, test, and integration of Ordnance (Stage Separation and Flight Termination Systems), Pneumatic (Attitude Control Systems), and Solid Rocket Motor Systems resulting in successful flights of multiple Sub-Orbital, Target, and Space-lift Launch vehicles.• Provided direct technical leadership and resolutions to Pneumatic, Ordnance, and Solid Rocket Motor System Design, Integration, and Test anomalies as well as ensured department guidelines and requirements were met for each Pneumatic, Ordnance, and Motor System and Sub-system design.• Oversaw Lead Reviews, Flight Readiness Reviews, Failure Investigation Reviews, and Design Reviews. Show less

• 

  Orbital ATK

  Nov 2008 - Nov 2011

  Advanced Technology Manager/Sr. Engineering Manager

  • Management of 25+ engineers for System, Design, Analysis, and Project Engineering of Medium Caliber Guns and Gun Systems.• Successful proposal development, negotiation, and award of a $10.6 million dollar contract for DoD Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC), Picatinny Arsenal. • Successful in winning Rapid Prototyping and Technology Initiative (RPTI) contract through Battelle Memorial Institute for ARDEC for the design and development of a remote weapon station by teaming with SAAB Security and Defence Solutions• Directed engineering activities involving supplier quality issues and field failure investigations including RCCA, FMEA’s, statistical evaluations, Gemba Walks and many other Lean manufacturing practices. • Drafted, released, and implemented design standards, bill of materials, component and system requirement documents, and design review gate process. • Participated in Department and Organization 5S Training and Implementation. • Conducted Value Stream Mapping exercises for multiple departments. • Established Standard Work for all employees within Engineering department. • Principal responsibility for guaranteeing organization passed BSI Audit by ensuring all department documents were up-to-date and error free. Show less

• 

  Stara Technologies Corp.

  Nov 2011 - Mar 2020

  • Responsible for P&L, budgeting responsibility, and overall cost control management of S&S Division• Direct oversight of S&S internal support teams including Production, Marketing, Program Management, and Engineering• Responsible for directing engineering department for all divisions within the organization• Responsible for identifying and proposing new business opportunities for the organization through the establishment of relationships with customers as well as relevant industry contacts and government agencies, as well as reviewing and responding to request for proposals (RFP) and solicitations• Responsible for strategic planning, team building, production planning, operations management and financial execution with working knowledge of contracting, negotiating and supply chain management Show less • Manage team of engineers and technicians in the design and development of military and commercial products which include Integrated Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (ISR&T) Systems for the U.S. Navy (Navair 4.5x SSP), and Air Delivery Systems for Natick RDEC, as well as other government agencies.• Authored STARA’s Quality Operations Policy Manual. • Authored Engineering Departments Level I and Level II Operational Procedures.• Accountable for the creation of Detailed Part Drawings, Tolerance Stack Analyses, and Part Inspection Criteria.• Responsible for the creation of Department Work Instructions, Assembly Drawings, and Assembly Procedures.• Conducted engineering Root-Cause Investigations and Corrective Action Criteria• Conduct engineering department audits on projects to ensure ISO-9001 criteria is effective in order to pass external audits.• Development of interface control documents, test plans and reports, installation of Product Data Management (PDM) tools as well as CNC machining center. • Developed Phase/Stage Gate design and development process, ensuring high quality product TDP's.• Developed and initiated engineering Basis of Estimate (BOE) process within organization• Supported implementation of Earned Value Management on production programs. Show less

  • Vice President of Engineering

    Feb 2016 - Mar 2020

  • Director of Surveillance and Shelters (S&S) Division and Engineering

    Jan 2015 - Feb 2016

  • Engineering Manager

    Nov 2011 - Jan 2015
• 

  Advanced Technology Systems Company

  Mar 2020 - Mar 2021

  Vice President/General Manager

  Oversaw day-to-day operations; set corporate and departmental goals and objectives in support of president. Led organization in strategic and technical direction. Developed and shaped strategic objectives and long-term vision for division encompassing C4ISR systems, persistent surveillance systems, aerial delivery, and high-altitude stratospheric communication / payload delivery systems. Directed development and execution of focused research programs that aligned with senior leadership priorities. Maintained and developed strong and effective customer relations to ensure work of division supported needs of leadership.• Provided oversight of division’s Engineering and Business Development (BD) efforts to secure task-order funding to augment division’s line item-funded research programs and to support ATCS’s ceiling attainment.• Ensured IES division’s organization, staff, and core mission alignment with evolving challenges and needs of customers.• Attained exacting standards of quality and relevance and consistently delivered timely, high-quality research and analyses to customers.• Managed and oversaw company’s Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and coordinated highly classified work requirements internally and externally with DoD security professionals. • Developed and maintained strong working relationship with key DoD security professionals supporting contract-related security requirements.• Exercised sound fiscal management of division.• Worked collaboratively with human resources team to recruit and retain high-quality, diverse staff sized to execute division’s work in timely fashion.• Built effective, high-functioning teams and selected and developed division’s leadership team. • Set clear objectives and measures and held staff accountable for outcomes.• Motivated and coached direct reports to acquire skills and capabilities that contributed to high-performance team. Show less

• 

  Elbit Systems of America

  Mar 2021 - Feb 2024

  Director of Engineering

  ELBIT AMERICA, Fort Worth, TexasDirector of Engineering, C4ISR and Public Safety Homeland Security (PSHLS) Division, 2021-2024 Directed program technical execution in both C4ISR and PSHLS business areas. Led team consisting of program engineering managers (PEMs) and senior lead system engineers, with products consisting of tactical communications, power amplifiers, C2 command centers and mobile command posts, persistent surveillance systems, radars, and C-UAS and Autonomous UAVs (including both aerial and ground-based sensor systems).• Developed swarming C-UAS capability for Irregular Warfare Support Directorate (IWTSD).• Oversaw development and delivery of Mobile Autonomous Relocatable Tower for Irregular Warfare Support Directorate (IWTSD) supporting Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) and DoD.• Designed and delivered (including customer deployment and training) over 50 Tactical Network and Communication Mobile Command Post Vehicles (CPI2) for U.S. Army ($100M OTA).• Implemented design, development, testing, and integration of Cross Border Tunnel Detection Technology for IWTSD and CBP.• Guided development, testing, and demonstration of new Multi-Mode AESA x-band radar.• Provided technical and project leadership, including expertise in technology-specific areas, and worked with peers across engineering disciplines for additional resources and skills. Ensured any technical issues and technical / design / configuration changes communicated and documented through engineering review and change control boards. • Headed engagement with technical customer organizations and worked to establish working relationships and joint projects with government organizations and labs.• Coordinated with Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to establish and execute Internal Research & Development (IR&D) projects needed for advanced technology and new product development. Show less

• 

  Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.

  Mar 2024 - now

  Vice President/General Manager