Andrew Darden
Chula Vista,CA
Summary
Results-driven project leader with an Active DoD Secret Clearance and 7+ years leading $2M+ cross-functional projects in logistics, operations, and workforce development—backed by 11 years of Navy leadership in mission readiness, compliance, and team operations. Skilled in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery frameworks, with a proven record of reducing cycle times by 30% via sprint reviews, restoring 100% audit compliance across 150+ records, and improving operational readiness by 22%. Certified in CAPM, CSM, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt; PMP exam scheduled for November 2025. Known for hands-on leadership, data-driven decision-making, and effective stakeholder alignment in high-visibility, regulated environments. Currently pursuing mid-level PM roles in defense, operations, or enterprise transformation.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP) – Exam Scheduled, November 2025
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) – PMI, Expires June 2025
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance, Expires Feb 2025
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) – U.S. Navy, Issued Aug 2023
- Google Project Management Certificate – Coursera, Issued May 2025
- Active DoD Secret Security Clearance – Valid through 2027
Skills
- Project Scheduling & Coordination Calendar & Task Management (Outlook, SharePoint)
- Risk and compliance Support (audit readiness, issue logs, quality controls)
- Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid Project Delivery
- Process improvement (Lean Six Sigma, root cause analysis, SOP optimization)
- KPI Reporting, Documentation, and Executive Dashboards (Excel, PowerPoint)
- Stakeholder Communication and Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Team Development, Workforce Training, and Performance Engagement
- Tools: SharePoint Microsoft Teams (FlankSpeed) Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP) PowerPoint Word
- Currently Learning: Microsoft Project
Work History
Project Manager / Operations Lead
United States Navy
San Diego, CA
12.2021 - Current
- Directed $2M+ in logistics and workforce projects, achieving 100% on-time, within-budget delivery using PMI project controls.
- Applied Earned Value Management (EVM), reducing executive reporting prep by 40% and accelerating leadership decisions.
- Introduced Agile sprint reviews, cutting cycle times by 20% and improving project throughput.
- Cleared 150+ overdue compliance records, restoring audit readiness across all programs.
- Coordinated multinational exercises with 5+ nations, improving operational readiness by 22%.
Project Manager – Regional Talent Operations
United States Navy
Georgia, Georgia
09.2020 - 12.2021
- Managed $250K workforce program with 12 staff across 3 cities; exceeded hiring quotas by 20% and raised workforce diversity by 15%.
- Designed COVID-19 outreach campaign, increasing candidate leads by 19% despite restrictions.
- Automated workflows with SharePoint and Excel macros, cutting processing times by 30%.
- Coordinated 25+ outreach events, engaging 1,200+ candidates to expand recruiting pipeline.
Project Lead – Recruitment Systems
United States Navy
Conyers, GA
09.2018 - 09.2020
- Led onboarding pipeline redesign that reduced early attrition by 26% through improved candidate tracking and mentorship.
- Directed development of workforce dashboards, helping exceed placement quotas by 22% with data-driven insights.
- Oversaw scheduling automation rollout, reducing candidate no-shows by 17% through improved communication.
- Accelerated certification completions by 31% using hybrid WBS planning with Agile checkpoints.
Project Coordinator - Logistics & Readiness
United States Navy
Bremerton, WA
04.2014 - 09.2018
- Coordinated logistics for 30 personnel, safeguarding $1M+ in assets and ensuring 100% readiness.
- Applied Lean Six Sigma process optimization, cutting turnaround times by 20% in maintenance cycles.
- Produced accurate deployment forecasting models, ensuring on-time readiness for personnel and equipment.
- Introduced asset lifecycle tracking system, improving compliance and availability reporting.
Education
Military Coursework - Project & Operations Management
U.S. Navy – Joint Services Transcript (ACE Credit)
San Diego, CA03-2024
Some College (No Degree) - Health Care Science
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, GAAtlanta, GA
Accomplishments
- Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
- Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (x6)
- Recruiter of the Year
- Rookie Recruiter of the Year
- Diversity Recruiter of the Year
Professional Affiliation
- Project Management Institute (PMI), Member
- Scrum Alliance, Member
- PMI San Diego Chapter, Military Member Liaison (Volunteer), Leading outreach and certification pathways for transitioning service members
Military Service
- United States Navy
Rating & Rank: Operations Specialist First Class (OS1 / E-6) - Service Dates: April 2011 – Present
- Status: Transitioning Service Member | Available with 30 Days’ Notice
- Duty Stations: San Diego, CA | Conyers, GA | Bremerton, WA
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Project Manager / Operations Lead
United States Navy
12.2021 - Current
Project Manager – Regional Talent Operations
United States Navy
09.2020 - 12.2021
Project Lead – Recruitment Systems
United States Navy
09.2018 - 09.2020
Project Coordinator - Logistics & Readiness
United States Navy
04.2014 - 09.2018
Military Coursework - Project & Operations Management
U.S. Navy – Joint Services Transcript (ACE Credit)
Some College (No Degree) - Health Care Science
Atlanta Technical College
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