Lee A. Heaton
Temple,TX
Summary
From war zones to virtual meeting rooms, my career has been defined by one mission: leading teams to deliver meaningful change.
I’m an Operational Excellence leader with over 15 years of experience transforming organizations through project management, process optimization, IT management, change leadership, and knowledge management. My journey began in the U.S. Navy, where I served as an Information Operations Officer. There, I commanded globally dispersed high-performing IT teams under extreme conditions, pioneered collaborative environments across continents, and orchestrated complex, high-stakes initiatives in some of the world’s most challenging settings.
After retiring from the military, I transitioned into the civilian healthcare services industry—bringing with me a servant-leadership mindset and a strategic lens. I’ve steered teams through complex transformations, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration, always with a focus on delivering value and driving continuous improvement.
I’m not just a planner, I’m a builder of systems, a connector of people, and a champion of change. If your organization is looking for someone who can lead with clarity, inspire with purpose, and execute with precision, let’s talk about how I can help shape your next chapter.
𝐌𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: deliver sustainable results, empower teams, and build the frameworks that allow businesses to thrive under pressure.
📩 Connect with me at leeheaton7032@gmail.com with any operational excellence and business transformation opportunities.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
3
3
Advanced training: PMP; LSS BB; UX
Work History
Agile Product Management Senior Advisor
Evernorth Health Services
07.2022 - 05.2025
- Directed strategic business operations, optimizing workflows and driving team productivity through data-informed decisions and targeted process improvements.
- Created SOPs, visuals, and stakeholder-ready materials to accelerate learning and alignment.
- Partnered with IT and business leaders to deliver enterprise initiatives and streamline processes in the transformation of an IT infrastructure team into a Demand Management organization overseeing $2.1B in project value.
- Led Agile and Waterfall projects, facilitating senior-level meetings, stand-ups, and retrospectives to track progress, manage risks, and ensure delivery.
- Mapped and analyzed business processes to identify inefficiencies and design optimized, risk-aware solutions.
- Designed and led change management and communication strategies to drive adoption of new frameworks and tools across the enterprise.
- Fostered cross-functional collaboration through secure knowledge-sharing environments and maintained operational cadences to ensure alignment and execution.
Operating Effectiveness Advisor/Senior Advisor
Cigna Healthcare
07.2015 - 05.2022
- Standardized best practices and processes across the organization, analyzing and optimizing workflows to eliminate bottlenecks, reducing waste, and ensuring efficient, scalable, strategic operations.
- Facilitated executive workshops to align senior leadership around strategic goals, driving clarity, accountability, and effective decision-making across business units.
- Designed and managed an enterprise collaboration environment for critical business content and processes, improving cross-team communication and enabling data-driven decision-making by senior leaders.
- Led enterprise-wide strategic initiatives from inception through execution and retrospective analysis, delivering continuous value through structured planning, targeted communications, and iterative feedback loops.
- Program Manager for critical departmental reorganization and process change covering 6 projects and up to 32 workstreams.
- Guided projects to successful conclusions, achieving regulatory compliance, boosting operational efficiency, and driving sustained behavioral change.
- Advanced Scrum Master, facilitated strategic team initiatives: planning, oversight, reporting, and analysis within each iteration to ensure successful delivery of value.
- Developed roadmaps for strategic planning and scheduling of initiatives.
- Applied ADKAR change management methodology to guide cross-functional teams through transitions, fostering agility, boosting user engagement, and accelerating adoption of new systems and workflows.
Knowledge Management Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Leidos, Inc.
10.2014 - 07.2015
- Knowledge Management SME for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Architecture, Strategy, and Development (ASD) office under the Office of Information and Technology (OI&T).
- Directed data management, content governance, and process optimization initiatives across departmental functions.
- Established metadata and taxonomy standards and developed data integration strategies to streamline workflows and enhance decision-making.
- Provided expert guidance on software and application development challenges to drive improved project outcomes.
- Spearheaded cross-functional team formation to identify operational inefficiencies and implement comprehensive business solutions.
- Ensured representation from all stakeholder groups to deliver well-informed, strategically aligned, and sustainable improvements.
Senior Knowledge Management Analyst
IAP Worldwide Systems
02.2013 - 09.2014
- Collaborated with business analysts to define IT requirements, formulating functional requirement documents to ensure product alignment with business needs and stakeholder expectations.
- Translated customer needs into actionable technical solutions, managing risks and dependencies to ensure successful delivery of key operational initiatives.
- Led cross-functional teams to streamline operational processes and optimize business solutions, delivering measurable efficiency and performance improvements.
- Documented and analyzed both strategic and operational workflows, developing 'as-is' and 'to-be' process maps and providing actionable recommendations to enhance strategic decision-making and operational agility.
- Mapped process and information flows across the organization, identifying redundancies and gaps, driving improved knowledge sharing and organizational learning.
- Directed the implementation of secure collaborative tools for use by the U.S. military, federal agencies, and international partners, ensuring alignment with U.S. information security protocols.
Director, Business Development
Bae Systems Inc.
Remote
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Developed and strengthened relationship between BAE Systems and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
- Fostered long-term strategic relationship between BAE Systems, Intelligence and Security sector and US Special Operations Command.
- Contributed to developing winning bid for Applications Development work at USSOCOM with $65 million opportunity.
Deputy, IT Management Office
USSOCOM
Tampa, FL
10.2009 - 12.2010
- Supported the Chief of the Information Technology Management Office (ITMO) in planning, implementing, and enforcing compliance with IT policies, standards, architectures, and strategic initiatives.
- Led ITIL strategic planning and coordinated training for communications personnel; developed “as-is” process maps and drove IT process improvement efforts.
- Played a key role in the successful procurement of a $2B IT services contract.
- Restructured ITMO operations and implemented new IT lifecycle processes to improve efficiency and governance.
- Authored the CIO Strategic Plan, aligning IT objectives with overarching Command goals and direction.
Enterprise Knowledge Manager
USSOCOM
Tampa, FL
08.2008 - 12.2009
- Directed collaborative information-sharing initiatives among Special Operations Forces to enhance operational awareness and decision-making.
- Led enterprise Knowledge Management (KM) strategy and policy development across a geographically dispersed organization.
- Coordinated with Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Joint Forces, DoD, and DIA to align KM initiatives and ensure interoperability.
- Designed and delivered KM training programs across all departments to foster knowledge-sharing culture.
- Oversaw procurement, testing, deployment, and maintenance of KM tools, ensuring cost-effective and secure integration.
- Assessed IT system requirements for interoperability, redundancy, and cost efficiency, driving optimal solutions.
- Resolved vendor and contract challenges to maintain continuity and performance standards.
- Revitalized a dormant KM program, inspiring adoption and embedding KM into decision-making workflows.
- Led deployment and training for a $4.5M enterprise KM software platform.
- Contributed to planning and execution of a $2.3M enterprise KM contract to enhance organizational capability.
- Partnered with Six Sigma-certified personnel to streamline and document key business processes.
- Established cross-functional KM and Data Strategy Working Groups to advance enterprise knowledge and data governance.
IT Project Manager
NATO C3 Agency
Brussels, Belgium
06.2005 - 07.2008
- Led critical communications and information systems projects supporting NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, overseeing full project lifecycle: requirements, RFPs, architecture, procurement, security, logistics, and training.
- Directed $450M in communications infrastructure projects for ISAF (Afghanistan) and KFOR (Kosovo), ensuring delivery in complex, high-risk environments.
- Served as SME for deployed communications in Afghanistan, advising senior leadership and stakeholders on technical and operational requirements.
- Managed the NC3A Field Office in Afghanistan, leading 200 personnel supporting 50K+ ISAF operators across the theater.
- Coordinated travel, security, and logistics for NATO project managers operating in hostile zones; maintained vendor relationships with in-country contractors.
- Facilitated multi-national communications initiatives, aligning efforts among NATO forces and local Afghan partners.
Deputy, Communications Officer/Ent Knowledge Mgr
Cruiser, Destroyer Group Five - USS Nimitz
San Diego, CA
05.2002 - 07.2004
- Managed all communications systems, computing infrastructure, and information management applications aboard USS Nimitz, enabling network-centric operations across the battlespace.
- Coordinated C4I operations between USS Nimitz, four accompanying combatants, three Carrier Strike Groups, and multiple commands during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
- Recognized as one of the Navy’s first five Knowledge Managers; led development of the Navy’s first information-sharing environment.
- Enabled coalition interoperability by directing pre-deployment installation and connectivity for Strike Group’s coalition network.
- Selected to co-develop the Navy’s afloat Knowledge Management (KM) course and Qualification Regulation.
- Facilitated the inaugural U.S. Navy KM courses in Norfolk and San Diego, establishing foundational KM training for the fleet.
Education
MS - Military Operational Arts & Sciences
Air Command And Staff College
Montgomery, ALMS - Information Technology Management
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CABBA - Business Administration, Marketing & Advertising
Texas A&M University
College StationSkills
- Operational Excellence
- Business Operations
- Project Management
- Information Technology Management
- Change Management
- Process Improvement
- Agile Methodology
- Knowledge Management
- Cross-Organizational Collaboration
- SharePoint
- SAFe Agile
- Confluence
- Jira
- Webex
- Teams
- Excel
- Tableau
- Visio
- PowerPoint
Certification
- SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certified
- SAFe Lean Portfolio Management Certified
- Prosci Change Management Certified
- KMPro Knowledge Management Certified
- ITIL Foundations v3 Certified
- Customer/User Experience Training
- All coursework for Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP certifications completed.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
RemoteImportant To Me
Company CultureWork-life balanceWork from home optionTimeline
Agile Product Management Senior Advisor
Evernorth Health Services
07.2022 - 05.2025
Operating Effectiveness Advisor/Senior Advisor
Cigna Healthcare
07.2015 - 05.2022
Knowledge Management Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Leidos, Inc.
10.2014 - 07.2015
Senior Knowledge Management Analyst
IAP Worldwide Systems
02.2013 - 09.2014
Director, Business Development
Bae Systems Inc.
01.2011 - 12.2012
Deputy, IT Management Office
USSOCOM
10.2009 - 12.2010
Enterprise Knowledge Manager
USSOCOM
08.2008 - 12.2009
IT Project Manager
NATO C3 Agency
06.2005 - 07.2008
Deputy, Communications Officer/Ent Knowledge Mgr
Cruiser, Destroyer Group Five - USS Nimitz
05.2002 - 07.2004
MS - Military Operational Arts & Sciences
Air Command And Staff College
MS - Information Technology Management
Naval Postgraduate School
BBA - Business Administration, Marketing & Advertising
Texas A&M University