Richard C. Howard, Lt Col (Ret)

Experience

• 

  United States Air Force

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2019

  • Managed acquisition processes for Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), replacement to E-3 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AWACS) system and the E-8C Joint Strategic Tactical Radar System (JSTARS). • Led team of 22 engineers and program managers providing technical and costing data for ABMS Analysis of Alternatives (extensive engineering, acquisition, and research document). • Oversaw $5M government contracting with 6 participating companies conducting research and starting ABMS development. • Prepared congressional notifications and briefs regarding ~$50B ABMS project. Show less • Managed largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) portfolio in Department of Defense. • Directed $82B and 247 Foreign Military Sales cases, transferring defense articles, services, and training to Saudi Arabia (SA) partners and organizations to improve SA defense. • Executed U.S. security cooperation strategy and negotiated 98 U.S./SA bilateral diplomatic agreements on behalf of U.S. Secretary of Defense (SECDEF). • Led 13 joint officers in building diplomatic and military relationship between U.S. and SA. Show less • Managed 30 rapid technology development efforts totaling $1B+. • Led 60 program managers and engineers responsible for contracting efforts with defense companies, consulting firms, Federally Funded Research Development Centers, and small businesses; managing life cycle of systems being developed; and handling funding, risk management, timeline, milestones, design, security, and systems deployment.• Increased branch program management 43% by implementing rapid acquisition process. • Led $26M technology for CENTCOM Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUON). • Led $20M joint tactical cloud proof of concept, which streamlined communication between multiple disparate systems (flying systems, ground systems, command and control systems). • Managed $16.7M hyperspectral imaging (HSI) effort, transforming operational conduct. Show less • Managed Materiel Solutions Analysis for Hanscom Special Programs Division.• Solved classified government problems with innovative, unclassified, technology solutions. • Led and contracted 40-member team (engineers, managers, pilots, officers, analysts) from Mitre, MIT Lincoln Labs, Draper Labs, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and Riverside Research to develop Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) for Advanced Battle Management System (first step in ~$50B acquisition effort to replace AWACS aircraft). Show less

  • Lead Program Manager ABMS

    Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  • Deputy, Joint Advisory Division

    Jan 2017 - Jan 2018

  • Branch Chief

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2017

  • Chief, Materiel Solutions Analysis (MSA)

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  • Wing Executive Officer

    Jan 2011 - Dec 2012

  • Combat Systems Officer • Aviator • Navigator • Instructor • Flight Commander

    Jan 1999 - Jan 2011
• 

  Gov Close

  Feb 2020 - now

  CEO: GovClose | Richard C. Howard & Associates

  As a former U.S. government acquisitions officer, Richard C. Howard founded Richard C. Howard & Associates to help businesses navigate the complexities of selling to the U.S. government. Over the years, the firm has partnered with over 500 companies—from small startups to Wall Street investment firms and public tech giants—securing more than $100 million in government contracts. Recognizing a larger gap in the market, Howard launched the GovClose Certification Program to address the lack of trained professionals who understand how to sell to federal agencies effectively.Richard C. Howard & Associates provides hands-on expertise in:Strategic Planning: Crafting tailored sales strategies aligned with federal procurement processes.Pipeline Development: Building and managing sales pipelines, integrating CRMs, and identifying high-value leads.Government Engagement: Facilitating meetings with federal officials, responding to RFIs, and influencing solicitation requirements.Proposal Leadership: Overseeing competitive RFP and RFQ responses.Post-Award Support: Managing challenges like CPARS ratings and contract execution issues.Through GovClose, Howard trains sales teams, consultants, and individuals to succeed in federal contracting. The program equips participants—particularly veterans, National Guard members, and reservists—to leverage their skills, build wealth, and secure their families’ futures. It offers a comprehensive curriculum covering market research, pipeline development, proposal writing, and post-award management.Together, Richard C. Howard & Associates and GovClose deliver unmatched expertise in federal contracting and sales training, empowering businesses to succeed in the federal market and individuals to thrive in high-income careers. Show less

• 

  MarkLogic

  Mar 2022 - Oct 2024

  Federal & Defense Sector Sales Executive

  As a full time senior account exective I spearheaded US Federal government contract capture for US Air Force, US Space Force, US Department of Energy and Direct Commercial Sales with Brazil & the Brazilian Air Force.Initially, Marklogic was a client of my consulting business where I helped develop public sector BD strategy focused on growth and expansion within the DoD.In March 0f 2022 I was asked to come on full time to manage various federal sales pipelines.My tenure ended with the successful expansion of the existing public sector footprint and new footholds with additional federal offices and partner nations.--About MarkLogic--The MarkLogic platform creates data agility by simplifying complex data problems.• Connect: ingest any data, create and append metadata, classify and organize, use immediately• Create: assemble semantic knowledge graphs that capture reusable organizational knowledge• Consume: inform search, applications and analytics with trusted and relevant insightsThe MarkLogic platform connects active metadata with active data and active meaning. Data –and everything that is known about it – is kept together from ingestion through enhancement andimmediate consumption. The semantic knowledge graph and its data deliver agile and trusted reusableorganizational knowledge for informed search, contextual applications, and grounded analytics.Our customers use data agility to tackle a wide range of difficult problems that demand ametadata-centric approach:• Bringing complex products to market: bioscience, aerospace, and financial products• Discovering and acting on important patterns: intelligence, fraud, public sector, compliance• Building reusable and actionable organizational knowledge in any setting Show less