James Cook
Palmdale,CA
Summary
Instrumental senior project manager bringing 10 years of experience achieving ambitious goals in challenging test environment. Diligent, forward-thinking and adaptable to dynamic company, customer and project needs. Successful at motivating teams to meet demanding timelines. Experienced Senior Project Manager gifted at meeting tight deadlines, driving business opportunities and working well in team-based environments. Engaging and personable with the ability to manage key milestones and deliver exemplary customer service.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Lead Project Manager
United States Air Force
04.2021 - Current
- Ensured seamless project transitions through meticulous documentation practices and thorough knowledge transfer sessions.
- Improved overall client satisfaction with clear communication, consistent status updates, and proactive issue resolution.
- Streamlined project timelines by implementing efficient scheduling and resource allocation strategies.
- Led the development of comprehensive project plans, incorporating scope definition, risk mitigation strategies, and budgeting considerations.
- Drove process improvements within the organization by sharing lessons learned from past projects during group-wide training sessions.
Senior Lead Project Manager
United States Air Force
08.2019 - 04.2021
- I maintained tactical control over project budgets and timelines to ensure teams stayed on task and met schedule goals.
- Adjusted project plans to accommodate dynamic objectives, staffing modifications, and operational requirements.
- I managed and led a project management team responsible for overseeing more than $1.3 billion in USAF and foreign military sales test assets, as well as over $42 million in test programs.
- Directly managed a $39 million two-year sustainment contract supporting five projects. I supervised both internal and external projects, reviewing activities to maximize efficiency and foster greater collaboration and transparency in communication.
- I worked closely with customers, technical teams, external stakeholders, and testing teams during kickoff meetings and planning sessions to confirm requirements.
Project Manager
United States Air Force
09.2017 - 08.2019
- Coordinated the construction project for the Global Hawk Ground Segment Modernization Program, overseeing material resources and scheduling to guarantee on-time completion. This was the first among three bases, to finish construction and initiate the first phase of testing.
- Launched and managed projects, overseeing costs, schedules, and performance to ensure their timely completion. Entrusted with the management of five programs, three of which were executed concurrently.
- Kept a vigilant eye on timelines and identified potential issues for resolution.
- Managed projects within stringent deadlines and budget limits, utilizing critical thinking to tackle complex challenges and collaborating closely with senior leadership.
Project Manager
United States Air Force
10.2011 - 09.2017
- Successfully led a multi-aircraft platform GPS jamming test event, uniting the team and recovering the schedule by 25%.
- Safeguarded the proprietary aspects of a unique Norwegian Ministry of Defense missile, while overseeing its destruction in accordance with Secretary of the Air Force/International Affairs guidelines, thereby defusing the escalating tension of this intricate political matter.
- Managed over $10M in complex multinational projects, earning accolades from the Director of the F-16 Division Fighter Bomber Directorate.
- Effectively handled a wide range of national and international programs in a shortened timeframe, gaining two years of System Program Office experiential credit.
Project Manager
United States Air Force
09.2008 - 10.2011
- Facilitated and enhanced the bi-annual Project Management 101 and 201 courses.
- Led the team in transforming four classroom-based courses into computer-based training, easing the rigidity of student training location requirements.
- Successfully managed the base-wide upgrade from Concerto 5.6 to 5.8, with a focus on comprehensive tester scrubbing, which resulted in zero defects and deployment on schedule.
- Served as a Theory of Constraints Deployment Expert for various base organizations, leading to improved organizational resource throughput and capacity.
Education
Organizational Leadership
Airman Leadership School
Edwards AFB04.2000
Skills
- Communication Skills
- Process Improvement
- Customer relations
- Dedicated team player
- Cost Control
- Project Scheduling
Certification
- Current TS SCI clearance
Timeline
Senior Lead Project Manager
United States Air Force
04.2021 - Current
Senior Lead Project Manager
United States Air Force
08.2019 - 04.2021
Project Manager
United States Air Force
09.2017 - 08.2019
Project Manager
United States Air Force
10.2011 - 09.2017
Project Manager
United States Air Force
09.2008 - 10.2011
Organizational Leadership
Airman Leadership School