Sasha Sanchez
Orlando,FL
Summary
Production Operations and Supply Chain leader with 18+ years of operations, administration, and leadership experience, including 15+ years of progressive advancement within the defense aviation simulation industry. Proven expertise in production operations, procurement, inventory management, manufacturing execution, supplier management, ERP transformation, and hardware lifecycle planning. Proven success supporting a record $90M in annual hardware revenue, managing annual hardware purchases that grew from approximately $20M to $33M, improving on-time delivery performance from 85% to 100%, delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual cost savings, and serving as a key architect of the company's NetSuite ERP/MRP implementation. Trusted business partner to executive leadership, collaborating with the CEO, CFO, Vice President of Program Operations, and Business Development teams to align operational capacity, supply chain readiness, and customer demand with revenue objectives and delivery commitments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Production Operations
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
San Francisco
02.2023 - Current
- Improved on-time delivery performance from 85% to 100% through enhanced production planning, supplier management, inventory controls, and operational execution.
- Led production, inventory, procurement, and supply chain execution supporting a record $90M in annual hardware revenue across multiple defense aviation simulation programs.
- Scaled procurement, inventory planning, and production operations to support annual hardware purchases growing from approximately $20M to $33M over a three-year period, enabling increased production capacity, customer delivery readiness, and organizational growth.
- Delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual cost savings through strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, inventory optimization, and process improvements.
- Served as a key architect of the company's NetSuite ERP/MRP implementation, helping design, customize, and deploy integrated procurement, inventory management, production planning, forecasting, and reporting processes across Operations and Finance.
- Lead a production operations department consisting of 2 direct reports and 5 indirect team members, providing oversight of production planning, procurement, inventory management, and supply chain execution.
- Collaborate directly with the CEO, CFO, Vice President of Program Operations, and Business Development teams to assess forecasted business demand and customer requirements, developing hardware procurement, inventory, production, and supply chain strategies while aligning contract manufacturers and suppliers to support timely, cost-effective program execution.
- Supply Chain & Operations Leadership
- Lead production, procurement, inventory, and supply chain execution supporting hardware systems across multiple defense aviation simulation programs and customer delivery commitments.
- Support annual hardware purchases growing from approximately $20M to $33M through strategic procurement, inventory management, supplier coordination, and operational scalability initiatives.
- Direct strategic relationships with key technology suppliers and manufacturing partners, including Dell, AHEAD, and Exxact, ensuring supply continuity, production readiness, pricing alignment, and delivery performance.
- Negotiated strategic supplier agreements, advance procurement arrangements, and inventory commitments to secure supply continuity, support forecasted demand, mitigate supply chain risk, and improve overall cost performance.
- Partner with strategic technology suppliers and manufacturing organizations, including Dell, AHEAD, and Exxact, to align production forecasting, capacity planning, material readiness, and delivery schedules with anticipated customer demand, revenue objectives, and operational growth plans.
- Lead operational readiness and manufacturing transition planning for new product introductions, partnering with Engineering and contract manufacturing organizations to ensure successful prototype, production, and customer delivery outcomes.
- Provide executive-level reporting and recommendations regarding inventory health, supplier performance, supply chain risks, forecasting accuracy, production readiness, and operational capacity.
- Lead Quality Management System (QMS) compliance, audit readiness, continuous improvement initiatives, and enterprise risk management activities.
- Partner with the Vice President of Program Operations to develop hardware lifecycle, obsolescence, End-of-Life (EOL), and Last-Time Buy (LTB) strategies supporting long-term customer and program requirements.
Senior Production Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2019 - 01.2023
- Managed enterprise production planning, inventory control, procurement coordination, and delivery execution across multiple defense aviation simulation programs.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive production planning and inventory management systems prior to ERP/MRP implementation.
- Improved visibility into production schedules, material readiness, inventory status, and program risks through standardized reporting, metrics, and cross-functional coordination.
- Led coordination between Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations to ensure successful program execution and customer delivery.
- Led production planning and manufacturing readiness efforts for new product introductions, ensuring alignment between engineering releases, material availability, supplier readiness, and production schedules.
- Oversaw Quality Management System (QMS) compliance activities through leadership of the Quality Manager, ensuring audit readiness, process adherence, documentation control, and continuous improvement across production operations.
- Established scalable production management processes that supported organizational growth and increasing production complexity.
- Drove continuous improvements in production scheduling, material planning, supplier coordination, inventory visibility, and operational readiness.
Senior Program Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2015 - 01.2017
- Managed a portfolio of five concurrent Department of Defense aviation simulation programs with a combined contract value exceeding $5M.
- Directed program execution for USMC and USCG training systems supporting the CH-53K, MV-22, T-45, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, HC-144, and MH-65 aircraft platforms.
- Led cross-functional teams across Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.
- Served as the primary customer interface throughout program execution.
- Led program kickoff and execution planning activities, translating customer requirements, contractual deliverables, and delivery schedules into actionable plans for Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations teams.
- Managed program risks, schedules, budgets, resources, subcontractors, and customer expectations across multiple concurrent programs.
- Led programs from contract award through integration, testing, customer acceptance, installation, and Ready for Training (RFT) certification.
Program Manager & Quality Lead
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2013 - 01.2015
- Managed Department of Defense aviation simulation programs through the full lifecycle from contract award through customer acceptance and Ready for Training (RFT) delivery.
- Successfully executed multiple concurrent programs while meeting contractual, technical, schedule, and budget objectives.
- Facilitated program kickoff meetings and cross-functional planning sessions to communicate customer requirements, project schedules, deliverables, and execution expectations.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams across Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.
- Developed and maintained project schedules, customer deliverables, risk assessments, and milestone tracking.
- Led the organization's transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015, managing quality system updates, documentation revisions, process alignment, audit preparation, and certification compliance activities.
- Served as Quality Lead, coordinating audit readiness, documentation control, process compliance, and continuous improvement activities supporting certification requirements.
- Established a strong track record of customer satisfaction and execution excellence, resulting in promotion to Senior Program Manager.
Production Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
San Francisco
02.2017 - 01.2019
- Managed relationships with system integration partners and key suppliers to ensure successful execution of hardware production and customer delivery requirements.
- Supported new product introduction and engineering development efforts by coordinating BOM releases, prototype builds, configuration management activities, and manufacturing readiness with Engineering and contract manufacturing partners.
- Established inventory control and lifecycle management practices for critical hardware components, reducing supply risk and supporting long-term product sustainment.
- Led external ISO 9001:2015 audit activities and coordinated quality compliance efforts to ensure adherence to applicable standards.
- Partnered closely with the Quality Management Manager to support audit readiness, supplier quality initiatives, documentation control, and continuous improvement activities.
- Created production orders and material requirement plans based on customer specifications and program requirements.
- Coordinated procurement activities to ensure timely acquisition of production materials, components, and hardware systems.
- Tracked component lifecycle status from introduction through End-of-Life (EOL), including planning and execution of Last-Time Buys (LTB) for critical components.
Programs Administrator
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
San Francisco
02.2011 - 01.2013
- Managed CRM, forecasting, quoting, proposal, and program tracking systems supporting company-wide business operations.
- Administered employee security clearance and CAC management activities supporting government contract requirements.
- Planned and executed major industry trade shows, customer demonstrations, and defense industry events, including I/ITSEC.
- Supported proposal development, customer engagements, forecasting, pricing updates, and business process improvement initiatives.
- Coordinated program documentation, reporting, scheduling, customer communications, and cross-functional support activities.
Administrator
StarChild Academy
Lake Mary, FL
03.2007 - 01.2011
- Served as a member of the facility leadership team, overseeing daily operations, administrative functions, personnel management, and regulatory compliance activities.
- Assisted in managing approximately 50 employees, including staffing, scheduling, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee development activities.
- Coordinated hiring activities, payroll administration, employee records management, and operational reporting.
- Ensured compliance with state licensing requirements, safety standards, policies, and operational procedures.
- Managed parent and customer relations, conflict resolution, enrollment administration, and service quality initiatives.
- Supported budgeting, purchasing, vendor coordination, and facility operations.
- Partnered with senior leadership to improve operational effectiveness, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.
Education
Interdisciplinary Studies
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL05.2006
Associate of Arts -
Seminole Community College
05.2004
Skills
- Production Operations Leadership
- Supply Chain Strategy
- Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing
- Inventory & Asset Management
- Contract Manufacturing
- Supplier Management
- Production Planning
- Forecasting & Capacity Planning
- ERP/MRP Systems (NetSuite)
- Hardware Lifecycle Management
- End-of-Life (EOL) Planning
- Last-Time Buy (LTB) Strategy
- Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001)
- Continuous Improvement
- Cost Reduction
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- JIRA
Certification
Previously Held U.S. Secret Security Clearance
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Supported a record $90M in annual hardware revenue across multiple defense aviation simulation programs.
- Scaled annual hardware purchases from approximately $20M to $33M through strategic procurement, inventory planning, and supply chain management.
- Improved on-time delivery performance from 85% to 100% through enhanced production planning, supplier alignment, and operational execution.
- Delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual cost savings through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, inventory optimization, and process improvements.
- Served as a key architect of the company's NetSuite ERP/MRP implementation, helping design, customize, and deploy integrated procurement, inventory management, production planning, forecasting, and reporting processes.
- Led the organization's successful transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015, including quality system updates, audit preparation, process alignment, and certification compliance activities.
Timeline
Director of Production Operations
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2023 - Current
Senior Production Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2019 - 01.2023
Production Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2017 - 01.2019
Senior Program Manager
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2015 - 01.2017
Program Manager & Quality Lead
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2013 - 01.2015
Programs Administrator
AECHELON TECHNOLOGY
02.2011 - 01.2013
Administrator
StarChild Academy
03.2007 - 01.2011
Associate of Arts -
Seminole Community College
Interdisciplinary Studies
University of Central Florida