Heather Randall Wilder

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Aug 2012 - Feb 2020

  Lead a team of 6 government and contracted engineers from a variety of disciplines to ensure efficient and effective management of range systems including facilities power, instrumentation radar, telemetry, air combat maneuvering instrumentation, and weapon impact scoring set. Managed a project portfolio worth $21 million and ensures proper execution of congressionally funded programs. Set standards and communicated current projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review and deadlines and timeframes for completion. Coached the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem solving methods and techniques, provided advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assisted the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution. Monitored and reported both in oral and written briefings on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that the unit’s instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines and quality were met. Managed engineering activities involving design and implementation that encompassed the maintenance, repair, upgrade, and operation of assigned systems, including the Utah Test and Training Range Communications Infrastructure. Show less Working in a Total Force Initiative Fighter Wing, aids the commander to oversee daily F-35 operations and ensure proper safety, security regulations, administrative duty and procedures are adhered to by 1,800 Active Duty personnel. Plans, organizes and directs all information management, personnel and scheduling actions on behalf of the commander utilizing several database management systems to include Outlook, SharePoint, several AF personalist systems and all Microsoft Products. Develops and implements Wing policies relative to communication and reporting procedures, as well as, performance report and decoration guidance. Manages Higher Head Quarter and multi-Wing-level taskings and ensures thorough, timely and accurate responses per established requirements. Edits and tracks performance reports for 1,800 personnel. Participates in Wing-level staff and maintenance meetings on weekly basis. Provides oral briefings to Wing leadership on status of performance reports, decorations, and Wing-level taskings. Coordinates with Major Command functional areas and unifies efforts among multiple higher level organizations. Provides direct leadership to nine military and civilian commander’s support staff. Ensures assigned work force is properly trained and equipped. Enforces code of conduct and initiates actions to increase performance that requires thorough documentation and apprises supervisors requiring higher echelon attention. Ensures performance standards are quantified and evaluated on a daily basis to produce an efficient workforce. Discusses employee performance and company expectations to subordinate supervisors and employees regularly. Applies Equal Employment Opportunity principles and requirements to all personnel management actions and decisions, and makes certain all personnel are treated in a manner free of discrimination. Show less Led a team of 91 military and civilian personnel to deliver programmatic support of four critical structure and mechanical programs in aid of A-10 Aircraft, five Major Commands, and three Air Logistic Complexes. Collaborated with the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Defense Logistics Agency, and the Air Force Sustainment Center to advocate war-fighting and life cycle management requirements. Ensured A-10 fleet-wide airworthiness and reliability.Directed the A-10 Wing Management Team, responsible for cost, schedule and performance of an ACAT II level Program, as well as, planning and organizing mitigation strategies for the long-term maintenance of legacy systems. Employed outside-of-the-box thinking to sustain aircraft depot inductions through coordinated, multi-functional management, process improvement, and creative use of wings from multiple stages of the sustainment lifecycle. Established aircraft grounding mitigation strategies, enabling four deployments. Briefed senior level leadership across 4 Major Commands on cost, schedule and performance for overall fleet reliability and sustainability. Commenced close-out program’s lifesaving and largest contract with the final delivery and installation of 173 new wings fortifying aircraft availability. In parallel, appointed lead Program Manager to initiate a new, separate $846 million wing contract. Recommend procedural changes, technical improvements, and modifications for aircraft systems and sub-systems. Show less Led a 60-member military and civilian Integrated Test Team towards planning and executing a $4.2 million annual test budget for the system programs office’s two major cyber increments within the ACAT I level program. Wrote, coordinated, and executed testing requirements and plans, directly working with offices from Air Combat Command, Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center, and Headquarters Air Force to meet the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s assigned objectives. Established short-term and long-term schedules for multiple tests of varying complexity, bringing together 5 agencies all across the nation to one testing center. Chaired weekly mass team meetings to develop cross-functional solutions for the program office’s Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development programs and mitigations plans for developmental test deficiencies. Provided oral and written briefings to leadership weekly on command and control test findings, mitigations strategies, test plan development, and risk analysis. Chaired briefings with the Prime Contractor and Developmental and Operational Test communities on a weekly basis to manage schedule, cost, performance and risk mitigation factors. Developed, authored and published programs first-ever Material Improvement Process Review Board charter to align all appropriate stakeholders to a common understanding of the deficiency review process with respect to cyber vulnerability resolution per the respective Air Force Technical Order. Show less Operated and managed nuclear and missile operations systems. While on duty, assumed command of 50 nuclear combat assets worth $3.3 billion, accountable to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the Commander of United States Strategic Command for all launch actions, maintenance and security of assets. Performed associated command, control, communications, maintenance and launch activities to defend and support the United States and allied forces. Served as a combat-ready missile crew commander, responsible for crew’s proficiency and professional development. Earned certifications as a qualified trainer and evaluator for over 170 personnel. Established training requirements and performance standards for all systems. Ensured personnel were adequately trained and certified to perform day-to-day and contingency operations in areas of weapons employment, weapon system maintenance, security and emergency operations. Established training requirements and performance standards for all systems. Observed, conducted and evaluated effectiveness of nuclear and missile operations weapon systems training, standardization and evaluation programs. Inspected nuclear and missile operation actives and units for compliance with directives and standardized procedures. Developed policies and procedures for current and future nuclear and missile operation systems. Advised commanders and staff on capability of offensive and defensive units to meet operational requirements, and on matters for operational effectiveness, combat readiness, organization and training. Provided training and oral briefings on safety standards. Interpreted instructions, specifications, technical orders, publications and operating procedures for operations and systems maintenance. Accomplished proper safety and security regulations, practices and procedures. Show less

  • Major Range and Test Facility Program Manager

    Jun 2019 - Feb 2020

  • Executive Officer/Deputy Director to 388th Fighter Wing Commander

    Apr 2018 - Jun 2019

  • A-10 Program Manager

    Jun 2017 - Apr 2018

  • Test and Evaluation Program Manager, Air Operations Center Weapon System

    May 2016 - May 2017

  • Missile Combat Crew Commander, Instructor and Evaluator, 319th Missle Squadron

    Aug 2012 - May 2016
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  US Air Force Reserve

  Feb 2020 - now

  Director Of Operations