Christopher Howard

• Directly manage two DHS Level 3 Non-Major Acquisition Programs - POLAR STAR & HEALY Service Life Extension Programs (SLEPs)
• Responsible for $180M of acquisition investments & system recapitalizations directly improving surface fleet readiness, reliability, operational capability, & collaboration with the National Science Foundation; directly supporting National & DHS priorities/strategies to strengthen military presence, preparedness & resilience in the Arctic & Antarctic.
• Supervise 7 Active-duty detached Contracting Officer Representative (COR) inspectors at the Resident Inspection Office Seattle, responsible for maintaining cost, schedule, performance, quality assurance & technical risk on 100 acquisition system recapitalizations & 120 sustainment/maintenance work items in numerous services contracts, ship repair production availabilities & Inter/Intra-government agency agreements.
• Assisted in developing training materials for staff and volunteers.
• Coordinated program activities to ensure compliance with Coast Guard regulations.
• Managed scheduling and logistics for operational meetings and briefings.
• Supported project planning by tracking milestones and deadlines.
• Engaged with stakeholders to gather feedback on program effectiveness.
• Maintained accurate records of program activities and communications.
• Assessed risks associated with different aspects of a given project or initiative and developed plans accordingly.
• Researched current trends in technology that could be utilized to improve efficiency of existing programs.
• Coordinated and monitored program performance, quality and services.
• Prepared reports, presentations, and other documents related to program activities.
• Facilitated meetings between team members, stakeholders, and other parties involved in the program's development or implementation.
• Collaborated with professionals to coordinate travel plans, special events and tasks.
• Administered budgets and monitored expenditures to keep program operations aligned with budget targets.

• Directed an annual $26.3M services contract with 110+ highly specialized Full Time Employee engineers that provided direct technical support to 8 high visibility, diverse and complex major surface ship acquisitions programs and vessel sustainment stakeholders, achieving shipbuilding design/construction timelines.
• Guided a team of 3 project managers, 6 functional area division leads and 5 stakeholder teams to organize, develop, with written detailed requirements and evaluation factors for next generation support services contract, estimated at $168M, documenting successful achievement of complex government deliverables for contract execution.
• Persistently pursued impactful improvements; established tracking tool to improve efficiency of workforce management.
• Directed and performed resource loading study of 120+ technical reviewers, strategized a plan to balance contractor FTE assignment, justify additional resources and forecast future Civilian & contractor needs/contingencies in support of budget planning.
• Collaborated with team leaders to quantify labor gaps/surplus and expertly counseled Ship Design Managers to improve project quality assurance and properly allocate personnel for critical design review events; justified 10 additional FTE $1.8M contract increase and implemented surge staffing of 27 FTE from a U.S. Navy contract to rapidly progress Polar Security Cutter design in support of USCG & congressional priorities.
• Identified multiple discrepancies in funds allocation & executed contract closeout, correcting $2.7M in distributions & on-time payment.
• Managed contract ethically and responsibly; corrected discrepancy of 42 FTE position levels/experience for high-value staff, established dozens of new labor categories; coordinated $3.6M in 1k+ contractor temporary duty travel actions.
• Executed over 20 complex contract awards/task orders; innovated improvements & leveraged organizational procedures; streamlined coordination of 7 major stakeholder funding sources.
• Adapted to market demands, managed and executed necessary industry cost escalation, quickly implemented solutions to prevent gaps of service in technical oversight programs.
• Responsible for personnel & logistics management of 5 Officers, 29 Civilian GS-15 to 13, & 93 contractors supporting Ship Design & Systems Engineering processes for surface asset acquisitions through preliminary design, technical specification traceability, detailed design, acceptability, test verification and delivery to meet National, Joint DoD/DHS, & CG Strategic objectives for $12B Offshore Patrol Cutter, $5.1B Polar Security Cutter, $1.2B Waterways Commerce Cutter, & $350M Great Lakes Icebreaker platform class programs.
• Adjudicated 2 Government Accountability Office (GAO) contract protests, led technical evaluation team formal responses and coordinated closely with the Contracting Officer and USCG Legal.
• Wrote formal reports & contract documents justifying government actions and consistently maintained transparency with senior leadership and stakeholders.

Supervised engineering department through pre-commissioning and post-shakedown phases totaling 69 days.

Oversaw operation and maintenance of propulsion machinery, electrical power, damage control, and auxiliary systems.

Ensured compliance with industrial safety protocols, training qualifications, and readiness for damage control personnel.

Acted as liaison for acquisition program regarding construction milestones and warranty repairs on mechanical and electrical systems.

Coordinated pier usage with Base Charleston to optimize operational efficiency.

Managed contractor work during post-delivery availability involving shipbuilder and other entities.

Established safeguards for hot work operations, crane lifts, and generator tests to prevent incidents.

Collaborated with multiple offices to coordinate equipment upgrades, warranty repairs, and routine maintenance.

Served as mission systems integrated product team lead for $12 billion offshore patrol cutter acquisition.

Managed six-member team providing technical oversight and compliance reviews.

Led 12-member quality assurance team to validate construction progress and adherence to classification rules.

Supervised logistics team during property audits and developmental design review for three months.

Planned arrival and departure of 20 personnel during second transfer season.

Corrected resource shortages, ensuring smooth transitions and operational continuity.

Scheduled critical training courses for personnel, utilizing low-cost facilities for seven-week commercial and DHS sessions.

Coordinated unit certifications, enabling achievement of 39 acquisition certifications and proper recognition.

Supervised military members, civilians and contracted employees in technical oversight for maintenance of hull mechanical and electrical systems on WMSL class cutters.

Managed 5,400 maintenance tasks, including 1,950 preventive and corrective maintenance procedure cards.

Developed effective strategic plans to enhance operational efficiency.

Served as lead integrator for logistics modernization project to ensure timely updates of maintenance documentation.

Deployed 14-member team to validate over 7,000 system configuration items aboard CGC James.

Identified and corrected 921 errors in WMSL processes, saving 300 man-hours of redundant work.

Oversaw execution of three maintenance effectiveness reviews on critical system components.

Established a $115,000 contract for platform stowage plan development, optimizing storage methodologies.

Oversaw operation, maintenance, and repair of propulsion machinery and auxiliary systems on CGC Northland.

Supervised 33-member department, including three job orders, one chief warrant officer, and 26 enlisted personnel.

Functioned as damage control officer, ensuring effective organization and training for shipboard emergencies.

Managed catastrophic failures in propulsion systems, directing senior engine room personnel during generator pump failures.

Assumed temporary duty as engineering officer, enforcing adherence to ship's doctrine and standing orders.

• Reviewed engineering asset logbook tool for accuracy and compliance within department operations.
• Coordinated maintenance for piping, electrical power, ventilation, refrigeration, water heat, weight handling, and small boats.
• Trained crew in proper damage control procedures to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Supervised civilians and contractors to provide technical oversight for maintenance procedures on five 418' WMSL class cutters.

Managed over 10,000 maintenance tasks and evaluated feedback from cutter and shore engineers to update maintenance procedure cards and technical documents.

Served as project manager for eight contracts totaling $2.4 million.

Directed maintenance team and contractors in preparation for new maintenance scheduling software implementation.

Mentored prospective student engineers during USCGA pre-grad week, providing guidance on USCG naval engineering careers.

Oversaw development of US Navy sustainment agent software to schedule and track hose gauge meter and valve overhaul.

Achieved Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification to enhance knowledge and skills.

Planned, managed, and executed over 1,600 instructional events to optimize learning opportunities.

Planned and managed 2,600 instructional events to optimize resource allocation.

Supervised seven active military personnel, including two JO, two CWO, and three E8 to E7s.

Oversaw 417 USCG, USN, and international students from E-6 to O-5 ranks.

Delivered over 1,110 hours of instruction as subject matter expert in naval engineering policy and ship stability curricula across five areas.

Initiated improvements to course instruction, correcting deficiencies and updating master course schedule.

Fostered interagency collaboration between USCG and Navy training entities for enhanced operational efficiency.

Employed innovative teaching methods for effective communication of complex material.

Mentored students on officer responsibilities and naval engineering career progression.

Planned and executed engineering and logistics support for 14 aids to navigation and ice breaking cutters, managing 21 availabilities totaling $5.2 million.

Oversaw casualty support dry dock and dockside repair contracts, reviewed technical proposals, and managed government-furnished materials.

Liaised with contractors and contracting officers regarding contract changes, addressing over 50 technical concerns to minimize unnecessary growth.

Developed maintenance plans and defined 17 work definition conferences while incorporating engineering changes.

Mentored cutter engineering officers and petty officers, providing maintenance advice and process training.

Conducted 60 shipboard walkthrough assessments, documenting material conditions and maintenance needs for aging fleet sustainability.

Drafted and reviewed 210 current ship maintenance plans along with 20 industrial service orders.

Supervised 11 active military personnel in ship logistics management as Admin Department Head

Oversaw maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, supervising 4 active military personnel.

Managed engineering changes for damage control systems, supervising 3 active military personnel.

Led shipboard training programs to address shortfalls and enhance readiness.

Streamlined compliance processes across 3 divisions to rectify material condition discrepancies.

Developed casualty reports and coordinated emergency repairs for critical mission issues.