Chris Gehler
Executive Management
Colleyville,TX
Summary
Strategic-thinking professional with expertise driving business growth to exceed expectations. Expert in program and engineering management. Talented coach and mentor.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Vice President and Program Director, FARA
Bell Textron Inc
06.2023 - Current
- Military Business leader on Bell Executive Leadership Team (ELT) driving achievement of strategic, operational, and financial business objectives.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with USG customers, suppliers, and strategic partners.
Vice President and Program Director, FARA
Bell Textron Inc
04.2020 - 06.2023
- Led clean-sheet design, development, build, and test of Bell 360 Invictus for the Army's $2.5B Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Program.
- Led, coached, and mentored two program and engineering teams to build and test competitive prototype aircraft, while simultaneously designing full weapon system to meet Army requirements.
- Secured 100% USG funding of a $300M Other Transactional Agreement (OTA) Modification through innovative use of non-traditional partners and skilled negotiation.
Vice President and Program Director, V-22
Bell Textron Inc
01.2018 - 04.2020
- Secured a $4.2B multi-year agreement with USG for 58 V-22 aircraft. Secured $1.2B Performance Based Logistics and Engineering contract. Increased NOP and exceeded financial metrics for the largest and most profitable program for Textron.
- Developed, produced, and delivered the first of 48 CMV-22 Navy variant aircraft. Executed the $45M non-recurring engineering development leading to Nacelle Improvement program, a multi-billion dollar upgrade program for USAF, USMC, and USN fleets.
Director, Program Manager V-280
Bell Textron Inc
10.2015 - 01.2018
- Led the clean-sheet design, build, test, first flight, and envelope expansion for V-280 tiltrotor demonstrator aircraft that won the Army's $8B Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program competition.
Director, Global Business Development
Bell Textron Inc
12.2014 - 10.2015
- Developed and led strategic campaign that successfully brought tiltrotor technology to US Army Aviation portfolio.
Director, Military Program Operations
Bell Textron Inc
12.2013 - 12.2014
- Optimized program performance and execution with deployed model for engineering increasing accountability and cost controls.
Education
Advanced Finance Program
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PAMaster of Arts - Strategic Studies
United States Army War College
Carlisle, PAMaster of Science - Operational Systems
United States Army CGSC
Fort Leavenworth, KSMaster of Public Administration -
Golden Gate University
San Francisco, CABachelor of Science - Engineering, International Relations, Arabic
United States Military Academy
West Point, NYSkills
Executive Leadership
Program Oversight
Engineering Management
Strategy
Business Acumen
Relationship Building
New Business Development
Top Secret Clearance
Timeline
Senior Vice President and Program Director, FARA
Bell Textron Inc
06.2023 - Current
Vice President and Program Director, FARA
Bell Textron Inc
04.2020 - 06.2023
Vice President and Program Director, V-22
Bell Textron Inc
01.2018 - 04.2020
Director, Program Manager V-280
Bell Textron Inc
10.2015 - 01.2018
Director, Global Business Development
Bell Textron Inc
12.2014 - 10.2015
Director, Military Program Operations
Bell Textron Inc
12.2013 - 12.2014
Advanced Finance Program
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Master of Arts - Strategic Studies
United States Army War College
Master of Science - Operational Systems
United States Army CGSC
Master of Public Administration -
Golden Gate University
Bachelor of Science - Engineering, International Relations, Arabic
United States Military Academy
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