Parke Guthner

Retired, but not finished, senior leader, experienced in leading the operational, financial, and organizational performance of large organizations, excited for a position where my military and defense experience, leadership and communication skills, and customer service expertise will benefit an organization.

A highly accomplished and ethical military and senior business executive with over 35 years of successful hands-on management and personnel leadership experience while directing organizations ranging in size from 40 to 650 personnel. Background includes extensive focus and expertise in the development and team building of diverse groups of military and civilian personnel. An inspirational leader and exceptional communicator with a proven record of optimizing team and organizational performance and solving problems.

• Financial Acumen: As Commanding Officer of DFAS Norfolk, became the leader in East Coast management of General Fund Enterprise Business Systems (GFEBS) and Standard Accounting and Reporting System (STARS) Field Level accounting for Army and Navy.
• Operational Logistics: As a leading Supply Corps Officer, was able to develop and implement pioneering and innovative concepts to change the paradigm of traditional Navy thinking. In the 1990’s, put forward ideas that were then adopted by senior leaders as concepts that took Navy logistics to a new level.
• Leadership: Action oriented strategic thinker with proven leadership of large organizations. As Commanding Officer of Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Norfolk, led 350 personnel in the performance of Fleet and Army Accounting Services for commands disbursed across the world.
• Organizational Development: As the Business Manager for Joint Experimentation, U. S. Joint Forces Command, designed and implemented a plan for completing all projects and transferring responsibilities and resources to U. S. Joint Staff. This was a body of work valued at over $100M that develops the tools for the warfighter of today as well as the warfighter of the future.
• Contracting and Acquisition: Led numerous acquisition teams through the entire procurement process from acquisition plan development, request for proposal, evaluation of proposals, awarding, contract execution and contract closeout. From $500M Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contracts to $1M service delivery teams for specific projects on a single task order. Understands how to provide what the customer wants, even though the customer doesn’t know what they want.
• Communication: As a thought leader, formally presented numerous business cases to senior leadership and served as major proponent for the transition of Information Technology (IT) Services provided internally to an Enterprise-wide service provider reducing costs by over $25M annually. Led DFAS Norfolk through a period of transformation by transitioning all duties and responsibilities to other sites; thus closing the command. Worked with State and Federal employment organizations to provide follow on opportunities for all of DFAS Norfolk’s 350+ employees. Planned and executed a corporate communication plan that allowed for employees to continue to execute the command mission while allaying fears about future employment.
• Customer Service: As Enterprise Management Chief for the Joint Staff, J6, Commanding Officer, DFAS Norfolk, Supply Officer USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), I have been a Customer Service advocate. Whether it is ensuring contractor personnel are able to meet the IT requirements of the senior leadership of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, invoices for government contractors are paid in a timely manner, service members have their travel claims properly processed or sailors on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier are well fed and the aircraft fully maintained I have ensured that the mission has been met.
• Team Building: Upon assuming duties as the Supply Officer for the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, set the goal of winning the prestigious “Blue E” for supply excellence. Through extensive coaching and mentoring of all senior leaders, not only did the department win the “Blue E”, but also the coveted Ney and Dorie Miller awards for food service excellence. Also contributed to the ship being awarded the Battenberg Cup, an award given annually as a symbol of operational excellence to the best ship or submarine in the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet.