Benjamin G. Califf
Program Manager
Deerfield,NH
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Branch Chief, Materiel Leader, E-7A Rapid Prototyping, AWACS & Wedgetail Division
Department of the Air Force
Hanscom AFB, MA
04.2004 - Current
- Leadership: Branch Chief of a 180+ member multi-functional team providing next-generation Airborne Moving Target Indicator capability to the USAF including design, production, test, delivery, and product support of two aircraft, ground systems, and trainers. Demonstrated significant technical acumen by developing solutions and providing written and oral communication of short-, medium-, and long-term objectives synching multi-domain operations while providing strong organizational guidance and cogent and timely fact-based decision making to vector subordinate Sections, Integrated Product Teams, and stakeholders’ activities ensuring customer satisfaction. Demonstrated ability for effective negotiations and communication including status reports to internal and external leadership & customers.
- Program Management: Headed comprehensive strategic planning, risk management, financial management, cost control, scheduling, and performance tracking processes. Drove an aggressive, accelerated requirements decomposition and design review to kick-start supply chain purchasing 12 months early to ensure aircraft production timeliness while meeting financial commitments.
- Contracting: Steered branch through accelerated Request for Proposal (RFP) development, release, technical evaluation, negotiations, and contract award saving more than ten months and 47% in cost. Simultaneously built and negotiated nine enduring licensee agreements to codify data rights for technical drawings and systems information to support Life Cycle Management (LCM).
- Budget and Cost Estimation: Orchestrated $4B+ cost estimation and integrated business planning and budgetary control process across multiple fiscal years for the life of the program. Provided strategic guidance to build and maintain real-time cost estimates for a ten year $7B modernization roadmap meeting monthly financial objectives, EVM, and ETC estimation, and performed a bottom’s up review to identify $2B in affordability initiatives to ensure a cost-effective program.
- Resource Management: Developed and initiated a test strategy to accelerate approval of a $12B production program by three years. Devised a quarterly cadence for agile software/firmware development and demos less than 45 days after contract award. Drove unprecedented customer-to-developer feedback by evaluating more than 70 software modifications cementing the future development and evaluation processes.
- Awards: 2025 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Outstanding Systems Acquisition Manager, 2024 Directorate System Program Office of the Year, 2023 Directorate Excellence in Acquisition Leadership Award
Program Manager, Upgraded Early Warning Radar & Ground Sensors
Missile Defense Agency
Hanscom AFB, MA
04.2021 - 04.2022
- Program Management and Leadership: Coordinated efforts of a 50+ member multi-functional team to modernize, sustain, develop, integrate, test, and field more than $500M in Ground Radar Missile Defense capabilities providing Missile Defense, Missile Warning, and Space Domain Awareness across the northern hemisphere. Supported milestone decisions, business case development, senior leader updates, maintained cost, schedule, and performance baselines, and engaged, built, and sustained key stakeholder support across space, air, and Missile Defense Agency staff, and test and operational space community.
- Program fielding: Re-organized deficiency review board processes to obtain Sr. Leader approval to close 22 deficiencies and transfer a $361M modernization program to operational use while guiding a $51M Air Base radar project through operational test, troubleshooting, and operational acceptance.
- Awards: 2022 Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Integrated Product Team Lead, RQ-4, MS-177 Sensor Program
Global Hawk Division
Wright Patterson AFB, OH
10.2016 - 04.2021
- Program Management and Leadership: Directed 90+ member team through $600M+ optical sensor program development, production, and fielding. Shepherded program through on time Preliminary and Critical Design Review integrating multiple mechanical, and electronic systems including facilitation of first ever NSA approved commercial solution for classified data at rest. Orchestrated 13 flight and 10 ground test events.
- Business Strategy: Developed, presented, and obtained senior leadership approval of $350M Acquisition Strategy/USAF Business Capture and RFP release approval consolidating 87 requirements into two service contracts and one modernization contract to reduce fielding efforts by 80%. Rapidly organized a 15-person team to plan and conduct market research to identify, research, and contact six viable contractors capable of meeting all contract requirements in two weeks. Simultaneously developed, coordinated, and presented a $40M acquisition strategy to senior air force leadership in in less than three weeks.
- Awards: 2020 Meritorious Service Medal First Oak Leaf Cluster, 2020, 2018 & 2017 Division Field Grade Officer of the Year, 2018 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Large Team of the Quarter, 2017 Division “ACAT III” Program Manager of the Year
Chief, C4ISR Cyber & Space Branch
Headquarters, Air National Guard
Pentagon, VA
10.2012 - 10.2016
- Program Management and Leadership: Managed $65M portfolio of 41 Cybersecurity, Space, and Simulator programs development & fielding across 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. Spearheaded conference for 331 people, 83 wings, 85 staff, and 44 Headquarters to identify $450M in requirements gaps for consolidation to inform Congressional leadership on the needs of the Air National Guard. Performed quality assurance in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while in an austere environment to safeguard the life, heath, and safety of more than 15k NATO personnel through stringent oversight of a $7.2B service contract.
- Awards: 2016 Meritorious Service Medal, 2015 Air National Guard Action Officer of the Year, 2014 Joint Service Commendation Medal
Company Grade Officer
Various Locations
04.2004 - 10.2012
- Operations: Conducted efforts of 80+ personnel to execute mission engineering and performance of space lift operations including motor refurbishment, mission assurance, START treaty compliance, business management, and range operations from three ranges for 16 government agencies. Coordinated with U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Task Force Alaska Leadership to accelerate delivery and prevent $5M mission delay.
- Intelligence Support: Produced all-source intelligence and analysis for foreign command and control capabilities for the Air Force supporting Service & Joint warfighting, force modernization, and policymaking.
- Training & Inspection: Trained more than 200 program managers to speed program success of center wide Operational Readiness Inspection across seven wings and 12 geographically separated units worldwide.
- Awards: 2012, 2008, & 2006 Air Force Commendation Medal, First & Second Oak Leaf Cluster, 2012 Wing Large Team of the Year, Air Force Space Command “Best Spacelift Squadron”
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Accomplishments
Outcome-oriented, highly motivated Senior Program Manager with 21 years of cross functional leadership experience managing dynamic programs from pre-contract award through development, production, fielding and overall product line management on schedule, within budget, and meeting performance standards. Proven record for effectively providing vision while demonstrating independent judgement, building high performing teams to solve complex problems, and completing program objectives through exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Grove City College
Grove City, PA 08.1999 - 05.2003
MBA - Supply Chain Managment
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 01.2012 - 12.2013
Skills
- Innovation management
- Excels in team leadership
- Expert in risk management
- Staffing optimization
- Relationship building and management
- Business development expertise
- Process improvement
- Dependable
- Risk mitigation
- Excellent time management skills
- Team player
- Coaching and mentoring
- Strategic planning
- Goals and performance
- Proficient in MS office
- Team supervision
- Employee monitoring
- Event planning
- Performance reviews
- Employee development
- Excellent work ethic
- Business planning
- Excellent communication skills
- Decision-making
- Reliable
- Attention to detail
- Deductive reasoning
- Relationship management
- Project management
Certification
- Certified Program Manager Advanced (PMP/PMI Equivalent Cert), Defense Acquisition University - 2025
Timeline
Program Manager, Upgraded Early Warning Radar & Ground Sensors
Missile Defense Agency
04.2021 - 04.2022
Integrated Product Team Lead, RQ-4, MS-177 Sensor Program
Global Hawk Division
10.2016 - 04.2021
Chief, C4ISR Cyber & Space Branch
Headquarters, Air National Guard
10.2012 - 10.2016
MBA - Supply Chain Managment
Arizona State University
01.2012 - 12.2013
Branch Chief, Materiel Leader, E-7A Rapid Prototyping, AWACS & Wedgetail Division
Department of the Air Force
04.2004 - Current
Company Grade Officer
04.2004 - 10.2012
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Grove City College
08.1999 - 05.2003
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