Rich Partenio
Cincinnati,OH
Summary
Experienced leader with a proven track record in program management and operational improvement within the defense and commercial sectors. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, developing and implementing PMO best practices, and driving strategic business development. Demonstrates expertise in navigating complex manufacturing operations and defense contract management. Committed to revitalizing projects and operations to maximize efficiency and profitability, with a keen ability to manage large-scale budgets and portfolios. U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President / General Manager
Federal Equipment Company, Fairbanks Morse Defense
07.2022 - Current
- Oversaw P&L for Federal Equipment Company's five subsidiary companies and managed the Maxim Watermakers division, collectively directing over $90M in annual revenue.
- Spearheaded post-acquisition integration and developed long-term growth strategies, bolstering operational efficiency and market expansion for defense and commercial divisions.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization, significantly enhancing divisional efficiency, productivity, and business performance metrics.
- Revitalized business development strategy, leading to a 100%+ increase in orders from 2022 to 2023.
- Transformed the engineering organization, effectively addressing longstanding challenges and optimizing product development processes.
- Led the successful turnaround of previously unprofitable commercial material handling divisions, achieving profitability in 2023 for the first time in over 5 years.
- Developed and implemented a new proposal process, effectively resolving historical issues in bid accuracy and win rates, leading to improved competitiveness and success in securing contracts.
Senior Manager, Government & Boeing Programs
L3Harris / Fuzing & Ordnance Systems
06.2020 - 07.2022
- Oversaw the financial performance of more than 20 programs, collectively generating over $150M in annual revenue, demonstrating adeptness in large-scale budget management.
- Collaborated with Senior Leadership to develop the divisions's long-term strategy for fuzing products, aligning product development with the business's broader objectives.
- Enhanced team productivity and morale through dynamic cross-functional leadership, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment.
- Led a team of seven Program Managers, providing guidance and mentorship, ensuring cohesive team operations and goal alignment..
- Implemented an innovative resource management process, significantly boosting project management efficiency while concurrently reducing operational costs..
- Pioneered strategic R&D efforts for advanced smart fuzing technology, addressing key market needs and securing the company’s position for future revenue growth..
- Worked with a coalition of industry partners, successfully securing the contract for next-generation Harpoon Missile warhead development and production.
Director of Operations – Autonomous Platforms
Soar Technology, Inc
04.2019 - 06.2020
- Directed Program Management, Engineering, and Operations in the Autonomous Platforms business unit, showcasing broad leadership capabilities.
- Consistently met or surpassed all PMO benchmarks within a portfolio of over 20 cutting edge AI and Autonomy programs. This performance led to high customer satisfaction, establishing the company as a preferred provider of AI and Autonomy solutions for DARPA and prime partners.
- Revitalized the PMO with new processes, significantly enhancing project management efficiency in scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
- Effectively tackled morale issues within the engineering team by addressing key concerns, fostering a more positive and productive work environment.
- Established a formal internship program in collaboration with student organizations at the University of Michigan, enriching talent acquisition and fostering industry-academia partnerships.
- Refined financial forecasting methods, achieving more accurate predictions, which contributed to record labor utilization and profitability.
- Spearheaded and won major bids for DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) and Urban Reconnaissance through Supervised Autonomy (URSA) programs as Program & Proposal Manager, securing the largest contracts in the company's history and outperforming numerous prime competitors.
Sr. Program Manager - Bomb and Missile Programs
L3 Technologies / Fuzing & Ordnance Systems
01.2017 - 04.2019
- Oversaw P&L for thirty programs, encompassing over seventy projects, collectively generating in excess of $100M in annual revenues, demonstrating comprehensive financial oversight.
- Formulated and implemented comprehensive PMO policies and procedures, standardizing project management practices across the organization to enhance operational efficiency and consistency.
- Led a team of nine Program Managers, directly managing and mentoring them to ensure aligned goals and cohesive team performance.
- Collaborated with our Business Development team to devise a growth strategy, achieving unprecedented win rates with prime contractor customers within my project portfolio.
- Successfully led the bid for the next-generation Air Force Cockpit-Selectable Height of Burst Sensor (C-HOBS) program, coordinating efforts across multiple L3 locations and industry partners.
- Partnered with the engineering team to develop the first qualified embedded fuze for bomb applications, contributing significantly to a high-profile Air Force program..
Senior Program Manager
L3 Technologies
07.2008 - 01.2017
- Led program teams in the development and production of DoD weapon system components, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to high-quality standards.
- Consistently surpassed established performance metrics on assigned programs, demonstrating efficiency and effectiveness in program execution.
- Played a pivotal role in operational improvement initiatives across the organization, contributing significantly during a period of unprecedented growth.
- Successfully turned around a challenging program plagued with design issues by collaborating closely with customers to implement effective changes.
- Implemented a streamlined Earned Value Management System (EVMS) for the division, enhancing cost control and financial forecasting accuracy.
L-3 Communications Leadership Development Program
L-3 Communications Corporate Headquarters
07.2007 - 07.2008
- Selected as one of two employees by L3 Corporate headquarters for the prestigious 2007 Business Leadership Development Program.
- Assigned to a rotational position as an Internal Auditor, directly reporting to the L3 Corporate Vice President of Internal Audit.
- Conducted comprehensive on-site division audits focusing on Sarbanes-Oxley, FCPA, Export Law compliance, and adherence to internal accounting policies.
Project Manager
L-3 Communications SPD Electrical Systems
09.2005 - 07.2007
- Guided project teams in the development and manufacturing of advanced electrical power solutions for U.S. Navy ships, ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to military standards.
- Partnered with Engineering to lead R&D projects focused on pioneering next-generation power solutions for future naval vessels.
- Created and implemented comprehensive Program Management Procedures for the division, markedly improving project control and enhancing financial oversight.
Education
Master Certificate Program - Project Management
Villanova University
Philadelphia, PA2007
Master of Science - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Philadelphia, PA2007
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC2005
Skills
- Implementation of PMO and technical staff best practices, coupled with team leadership and coaching
- Proficiency in product development, streamlining supply chain processes, and overseeing large-scale manufacturing operations
- Policy and Procedure Development
- Strong Business Development acumen, excelling in identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities
- Strategic planning
- Staff Recruiting and Retainment
- Specialization in revitalizing struggling operations or projects to boost efficiency and profitability
- Extensive experience in defense contract management, including successful proposal development, negotiation, and execution
- Proven track record in managing profit and loss for large portfolios and overseeing teams of direct report Program Managers
Timeline
Vice President / General Manager
Federal Equipment Company, Fairbanks Morse Defense
07.2022 - Current
Senior Manager, Government & Boeing Programs
L3Harris / Fuzing & Ordnance Systems
06.2020 - 07.2022
Director of Operations – Autonomous Platforms
Soar Technology, Inc
04.2019 - 06.2020
Sr. Program Manager - Bomb and Missile Programs
L3 Technologies / Fuzing & Ordnance Systems
01.2017 - 04.2019
Senior Program Manager
L3 Technologies
07.2008 - 01.2017
L-3 Communications Leadership Development Program
L-3 Communications Corporate Headquarters
07.2007 - 07.2008
Project Manager
L-3 Communications SPD Electrical Systems
09.2005 - 07.2007
Master Certificate Program - Project Management
Villanova University
Master of Science - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Coastal Carolina University
Similar Profiles
Shawn AlcornShawn Alcorn
Mechanical Engineer – Military Division at Federal Equipment Company (Fairbanks Morse Defense)Mechanical Engineer – Military Division at Federal Equipment Company (Fairbanks Morse Defense)
William ShumateWilliam Shumate
Controls Specialist at Fairbanks Morse DefenseControls Specialist at Fairbanks Morse Defense
Zachary GreenZachary Green
Senior Shop Mechanic at Fairbanks Morse DefenseSenior Shop Mechanic at Fairbanks Morse Defense