BLAIR L. EVENS
Summary
Dynamic Director with extensive experience in Business Development and Program Management at Collins Aerospace. Core strengths in strategic planning, pipeline growth and relationship building. The ability to drive focus into teams to exceed forecasting acumen through competitive intelligence and solid capture strategies. Led portfolio to a remarkable growth of $60M to over $3B in 3 years through three must win pursuits. Builds resounding team culture that has become the model of the Mission Systems business segment. Expert in product lifecycle development and sustainment; renowned for problem-solving and negotiation skills, driving successful outcomes in complex environments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Program Management
Collins Aerospace
03.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Company Segment: Integrated System Solutions / Air Force Strategic Solutions
- Business execution lead for Survivable Air Support Operations Platform. Responsible for customer relations, $1B Small business partnerships and entire Mission System integration in $3B overall business portfolio. Customer Base: AFMC, AFGSC
- Executed One RTX Strategy to secure platform scope – Interiors, Platform Power, Flight Deck, and Mission Systems
- Leader of high performing teams; partnered with Human Resources to develop a leadership model that allowed for scaling of program culture to account for the unprecedented growth
- Successful execution of over $100M internal funding to establish TS/SCI SCIF space to accommodate astronomical growth
Director, Program Management
Collins Aerospace
03.2020 - 03.2021
- Company Overview: Company Segment: Integrated System Solutions / International Integrated Solutions
- Led a team of US, Americas, European, and Middle East focused on P&L growth for International Integrated Solutions portfolio. Led teams in U.S., Europe, Middle East, and SW Asia.
- Customer base: NATO, 5 Eyes, Saudi, Finland, AUE, Germany, Poland, Australia, Singapore, and Japan. U.S. Customer: SOCOM, USEUCOM, PACAF, ACC, AFMC, AETC, AFMC, FORSCOM
- New business area formed through Collins's restructuring; actively manages $1B+ opportunity pipeline with an 85% capture success rate
- Created new ISR portfolio in Middle East with established $2M base; developed and executed substantial growth across the Strategic and Financial Plan (5-year span); executing a sustained $100M portfolio
- Pursuit lead for large RECAP platforms as a major strategic program for Mission Systems portfolio ($1B+ growth)
Business Development Director
Collins Aerospace
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Company Overview: Company Segment: Mission and Advanced Solutions
- Led Mission Systems Ground Radio (to include FAA), ISR, EW, NC3, Global Joint Fires and Advanced Solutions Business Development (>$380M annual sales). Led teams in U.S., Europe, Middle East, and SW Asia.
- Leadership span of control across multiple functional areas to include ISR (Commercial/Defense), Global Joint Fires (UK/ME Based), Strategic Command, Control and Communications, Electronic Warfare and Advanced Programs, and Ground Radio Communications (including FAA tower radios), increased forecasting acumen
- Strategic focused leadership created a shift from a focused defense market to a commercial mix to take advantage of forecasted trends in the unmanned aircraft market (taxis, cargo, etc)
- Identified DoD and International technology trends and worked with Collins Executive leadership to shift product space to maintain the current footprint while securing additional market share; shift of ground radio strategy immediately presented an opportunity to disrupt a major competitor from a sole source position with the US Army
Business Development Director
Rockwell Collins
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Company Overview: Company Segment: Global Joint Fires, Electronic Warfare, Unmanned Systems, NC3, Fixed and Ground Communications
- Led team to key wins to secure tactical ground radio market share from major competitor in two channel manpack radio domain. Led teams in U.S., Europe, Middle East, and SW Asia.
- Customer base: NATO, 5 Eyes, Saudi, Finland, AUE, Germany, Poland, Australia, Singapore, and Japan. U.S. Customer: SOCOM, USEUCOM, PACAF, ACC, AFMC, AETC, AFMC, FORSCOM
- Secured executive relationships with FAA Air Traffic Controller leadership in Washington DC to gain insight into new opportunities; positioned the company to enter a new market in FAA Emergency Transmit Radios
- Secured key relationships with Royal Saudi Air Force Commander, established confidence in Rockwell Collins ability as an in country prime leading to a key prime integrator role in Saudi Arabia
- Worked strategic partnerships with General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin Executive Leadership to position Rockwell Collins on Spectral Pursuit valued more than $100M annual revenue in product of tuners
- Identified customer trends and worked with team to shift product space to maintain our current footprint while securing additional market share; shift of product immediately presented an opportunity to disrupt a major competitor from a sole source position with the US Army
- Led team to attain >$400M annual sales growth through orders conversion and customer management
Site Director / Programs Manager
Rockwell Collins
01.2010 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: Company Segment: Global Joint Fires, San Diego Regional Relationships
- Regional leader representing Rockwell Collins in local and regional growth initiatives. Worked with local leaderships to increase company presence in Poway and the greater San Diego Region.
- Customer base: NATO, 5 Eyes, Saudi, Finland, AUE, Germany, Poland, Australia, Singapore, and Japan. U.S. Customer: SOCOM, USEUCOM, PACAF, ACC, AFMC, AETC, AFMC, SpOC
- Drove site from 70% employee satisfaction to an average of 94% satisfaction across 5-year span: increased retention rate from 94% to 98%
- Led program recovery efforts with Finnish Government – worked directly with customer to reset the execution baseline and deliver against our commitments
- Delivered the first ever ground based warning and control system to the Finnish Government as part of their countries National Security Initiative
- Worked with Rockwell Collins Board of Directors to develop and execute an exit strategy to shift critical resources from San Diego to Texas; identified early market trend of shift of high talented jobs from California to Texas
Education
Master of Science - Project Management
Boston University
Boston, MABachelor of Science (B.S.) - Computer Science
Troy University
Troy, ALSkills
- Cultivating strong partnerships
- Strategic growth initiatives
- Collaborative decision-making
- Data-driven decision making
- Strategic program execution
- Effective team building
- Strategic partnerships
- Comprehensive business strategy development
- Proficient in contract negotiation
- Cost control strategies
- Influential team leader
CLEARANCE
TS/SCI
Timeline
Director, Program Management
Collins Aerospace
03.2021 - Current
Director, Program Management
Collins Aerospace
03.2020 - 03.2021
Business Development Director
Collins Aerospace
01.2018 - 01.2020
Business Development Director
Rockwell Collins
01.2016 - 01.2018
Site Director / Programs Manager
Rockwell Collins
01.2010 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Computer Science
Troy University
Master of Science - Project Management
Boston University