Sarah Bray
Spring,TX
Summary
Experienced Technical Program Manager and Systems Engineer with expertise in T&E and systems integration for complex defense portfolios. Demonstrated success in overseeing high-value contracts, leading cross-functional teams, and serving as a reliable customer liaison. Holds an active Top Secret/SCI clearance. Seeking opportunities in the private sector to drive strategic technology initiatives forward.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Executing Agent, Autonomy & AI Test
Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)
Washington, DC
10.2024 - 04.2025
- Directs the Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Test (AAIT) Technology Area, leading the Broad Agency Announcement/Other Transaction Authority (BAA/OTA) acquisition process and managing the end-to-end execution of complex, multi-service test initiatives across the Department of Defense.
- Serves as the technical lead and Executing Agent for the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) AAIT Portfolio, overseeing the evaluation, prototyping, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy technologies into mission-critical defense systems.
- Represents the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) TRMC and the Department of the Navy (DON) in high-level technical forums, including working groups, steering committees, and technical reviews, while serving as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for six strategically significant contracts.
- Leads resolution of policy, funding, and test infrastructure challenges through strategic planning and investment prioritization, enabling delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to support future warfighter needs.
Deputy Project Manager & Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)
San Diego, CA
01.2021 - 10.2024
- Planned, managed, and directed all test operations within the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific Missile Defense Project, including coordination with program office stakeholders and sponsors to define requirements, oversee daily operations, and execute Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Test & Evaluation (T&E) activities across all functional areas.
- Served as Deputy Project Manager for a complex, multi-sponsor initiative with an annual budget of $25 million, supporting project budgeting, cost estimation, and schedule coordination.
- Developed and executed the project’s technical direction, aligning long-term strategic initiatives with procurement, modernization, and implementation of shipboard and shore-based technologies.
- Provided technical leadership for the BMD Systems Engineering Team, managing risk identification and mitigation, integration schedules, test readiness planning, and the monthly engineering drumbeat.
- Acted as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for a $5 million Task Order, overseeing contractor performance, managing level of effort, and reviewing Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables. Also developed Statements of Work (SOW), served on source selection panels, and monitored task execution for over 30 contractors.
- Directed the development and tasking of government personnel, including defining training needs, overseeing test campaigns, and managing staffing, resource allocation, and deliverables.
- Oversaw the project’s Quality Assurance (QA) program, leading configuration management and process improvement efforts for integrated software and hardware supporting the BMD infrastructure.
BMD Flight Test Lead
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)
San Diego, CA
08.2018 - 01.2021
- Served as the project’s Flight Test Lead, responsible for planning, coordinating, managing resources, and executing Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) flight tests.
- Led a multi-disciplinary test team of 10–15 personnel through pre-test planning, configuration, system integration, live test execution, and post-test analysis, supporting all major project functional areas, including Tactical Data Links (TDL), External Communication, Network Operations Center (NOC), and Aegis Weapon Systems (AWS).
- Acted as the project’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) Systems Integration Lead, managing the technical integration and expansion of test and evaluation (T&E) systems to support evolving requirements across multiple projects and Aegis BMD leadership.
Education
Certificate Program - AI for Digital Transformation
Cornell University
12.2024
Master of Engineering - Data Science
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, California06.2020
Bachelor of Science - Systems Engineering Major, Organizational Communications Minor
The George Washington University
Washington, DC05.2018
Skills
- Systems Engineering
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Test & Evaluation (T&E)
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Requirements Analysis
- Budget & Resource Management
- Technical Writing
Awards
- Navy Civilian Service Commendation Award, 2023
- NIWC Pacific Center Team Achievement Award, 2023
- NIWC Pacific C2E2 Department Distinguished Award in Leadership, 2021
- NIWC Pacific On-the-Spot Award, 2021 & 2022
Timeline
Executing Agent, Autonomy & AI Test
Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)
10.2024 - 04.2025
Deputy Project Manager & Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)
01.2021 - 10.2024
BMD Flight Test Lead
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)
08.2018 - 01.2021
Certificate Program - AI for Digital Transformation
Cornell University
Master of Engineering - Data Science
University of California, Riverside
Bachelor of Science - Systems Engineering Major, Organizational Communications Minor
The George Washington University