Open To Work
Kurt Jacobs
Lake Bluff,IL
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Federal Solutions & Markets
JMA WIRELESS
Deerfield, IL
01.2020 - 01.2026
- $20M+ Revenue Generated over four years through business unit formation, team development, and end-to-end capture execution - from opportunity identification, award and into operational deployment.
- Six OTA Projects Awarded & Deployed for the DoW - each achieving operational and security accreditation (ATO). Multiple operational deployments for logistics, defense industrial base (DIB), airfields and expeditionary installations. Establishing JMA as a DoW supplier and restoring US telecom industry leadership.
- $100M+ Federal Pipeline Built through 12+ system integrator partnerships across DoW, civilian, and public sector markets, enabling multi-year contract pursuit capacity.
- Industry-First 5G Deployments Led including mmWave, 5G Standalone, Open RAN, OCloud, NTN (satellite), and DoW-tailored solutions aligned to USMC, USN, USA, USSF, and DISA mission priorities.
- ZTA & AI/ML Federal Solutions Established - aligned 5G/6G, zero trust, and AI-enabled RAN capabilities with four major MNO defense business units for large-scale private mobile wireless.
- Built and led federal business unit from inception for a U.S.-based 5G/Open RAN infrastructure manufacturer.
Managing Director, Emerging Markets & Alliances
JMA WIRELESS
Deerfield, IL
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Private Wireless Market Launched - initiated virtual RAN market segment, identified ecosystem partnerships, and secured initial customers for end-to-end private network deployments.
- CBRS Market Leadership Built as industry-recognized shared spectrum expert - drove early certifications and deployments positioning JMA as a market-leading authority.
- FCC, OnGo & ATIS Engagement Led - actively represented JMA in key standards and policy organizations, boosting company influence in telecommunications policy development.
- 5G/ORAN Industry Thought Leadership Role - served as company evangelist, technologist, and leadership roles at executive forums, government advisory bodies, and industry standards body working groups.
- New Alliance Ecosystem Developed across industry consortiums and vertical markets, expanding JMA's commercial and federal footprint ahead of 5G market acceleration.
- Identified and pursued new markets and ecosystem partnerships for JMA's virtual RAN portfolio, expanding company presence in global standards bodies and government policy forums.
Defense Coordinating Officer - Hurricane Response
U.S. NAVAL FORCES NORTH
Norfolk, VA
01.2017 - 12.2017
- 20,000+ Personnel Commanded across Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines - coordinating 100+ aircraft and 12+ ships including aircraft carriers during a 3-month joint operation.
- 4-Star Command Lead for All Interagency planning, coordination, and operational employment of forces across U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas.
- 50+ Senior Liaisons Directed embedded with FEMA, state, and local civilian authorities across all response theaters with zero operational failures.
- Life-Saving Federal Agency Leadership coordinating all government agencies and defense assets across the largest domestic hurricane response operation in recent U.S. history.
- Joint Interagency Operations Executed at scale and speed - recognized for excellence across one of the most complex domestic defense operations ever conducted.
- Lead operational coordinator of all U.S. defense forces deployed in support of FEMA and national leadership during the 2017 hurricane season across 12 states and territories.
Senior Director, Global Alliances & Market Management
NEC
Lincolnshire, IL
01.2007 - 01.2016
- $50M Annual Revenue Delivered through 300 account teams, six regional selling organizations, and 50+ channel partners selling next-generation enterprise communications solutions globally.
- $20M Defense Contract Secured with European and African military forces for a nationwide communications solution - company's largest international defense award.
- Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) Cloud Market Created in 12 months, generating $3M+ new revenue and achieving the #1 analyst ranking in 2015 for UC&C portfolio.
- Two Industry Awards Earned - 2014 Business Unit Achievement Award for defense/government vertical expansion; 2015 NEC Innovator Award for first military-certified standards-based communications solution.
- $10M Revenue Preserved by reengineering operational and partnership support for 30+ technology partners through a major company merger without customer disruption.
- Led global go-to-market strategy for enterprise and government communications solutions across 35+ countries.
Executive Officer
NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND
Al Dur
01.2014 - 12.2014
- 2,000-Person Base Commanded - transformed from low-intensity theater security to 12+ active combat mission sets operating 24/7 with zero safety incidents in 10 months.
- Meritorious Service Medal Awarded for exceptional leadership in transforming a strategically critical air base into a full-spectrum combat operations hub. Simultaneously standing up Aegis Ashore base in Romania.
- 17 Departments Directed spanning combat, security, intelligence, and humanitarian functions - maintaining readiness through an intensifying operational tempo.
- Multi-Mission Expansion Achieved - grew from single mission set to 12+ concurrent operations while maintaining zero international incidents throughout deployment.
- Senior Theater Command Supported - represented air base at NAVCENT headquarters and maintained executive stakeholder engagement across the Middle East theater.
- Command and management of forward-deployed air base in the Middle East, directing 17 departments and 2,000 personnel across combat, security, logistics, missile defense, intelligence, and humanitarian operations.
Director, OEM Programs & International Business Development
SPHERE COMMUNICATIONS
Lincolnshire, IL
01.1997 - 01.2007
- 30% Company Revenue Generated from international business partner program launch across 15 markets; $8M in annual OEM revenue across 40+ countries.
- $50M Acquisition Enabled by launching VoIP technology as a managed service for government and education, attracting $15M in additional equity investment.
- Industry-Benchmarked VoIP Platform Built - achieved highest score in independent competitive testing; product line received 15+ industry awards as next-generation enterprise Unified Communications product.
- Professional Services Organization Founded from zero to 20 engineers under one year - achieved profitability within 12 months and managed installation of industry's first 1,000+ user IP PBX.
- Advanced from Product Manager to Director in a fast-scaling VoIP startup - leading product development, international market expansion, OEM partnerships, and professional services organization creation.
Work Availability
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Timeline
Vice President, Federal Solutions & Markets
JMA WIRELESS
01.2020 - 01.2026
Defense Coordinating Officer - Hurricane Response
U.S. NAVAL FORCES NORTH
01.2017 - 12.2017
Managing Director, Emerging Markets & Alliances
JMA WIRELESS
01.2016 - 01.2020
Executive Officer
NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND
01.2014 - 12.2014
Senior Director, Global Alliances & Market Management
NEC
01.2007 - 01.2016
Director, OEM Programs & International Business Development
SPHERE COMMUNICATIONS
01.1997 - 01.2007