Tyler Van Zandt
Defense & Federal Operations Leader | Mission Integration | Interagency Coordination
Oxford, NC,NC
Work Preference
Summary
Defense and federal operations leader with over 18 years of experience spanning operations management, engineering, and military civil affairs. Currently serve as a Project Manager at Wells Global, overseeing complex electrical line distribution programs supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in safety-critical, regulated environments.
Experienced in leading cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-value programs that enhance operational reliability, safety, and mission performance. Strengths include organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and disciplined execution across scope, schedule, and budget.
Background as a U.S. Army Civil Affairs officer and former Operations Integrator supporting Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) programs enables effective collaboration across government agencies, contractors, and interagency partners. Known for translating complex requirements into practical, executable solutions that drive results and build trust.
Motivated by complex missions requiring thoughtful leadership, operational rigor, and measurable impact, with a continued focus on supporting high-performing federal and defense programs.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-van-zandt-61633520/
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
10
10
Organizations led
Work History
Project Manager
Wells Global LLC
Raleigh, NC
01.2022 - Current
- Lead FAA electrical line distribution programs supporting safety-critical airport operations in highly regulated environments.
- Manage a concurrent portfolio of projects valued at approximately $20M, overseeing scope, schedule, cost, and risk.
- Coordinate with FAA stakeholders, engineering teams, and field personnel to support continuity of operations and mission availability.
- Drive disciplined execution across planning, design, and construction phases while maintaining compliance with federal standards.
Civil Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Colonel
US Army Reserve
Multiple Locations
03.2015 - Current
- Served as a senior planner supporting the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC), advising and planning for joint and interagency operations.
- Led and integrated Civil Affairs organizations ranging from 32 to 250 personnel, aligning personnel, resources, and training to support mission objectives.
- Oversaw multiple teams responsible for planning, executing, and adapting Civil Affairs operations and training strategies in complex environments.
- Integrated civil-military considerations into broader military operations, plans, and programs to support operational effectiveness and stakeholder alignment.
- Maintained 95% operational readiness of $1.5M in equipment over a five-year period while operating within budget constraints.
Sr. Operations Integrator
Leidos (DTRA Support)
Reston, VA
04.2020 - 12.2022
- Supported Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) missions as a Senior Operations Integrator, coordinating planning and execution across an 80+ person, geographically distributed team.
- Served as the primary integration point between government leadership, analysts, and mission-support teams to align operational priorities with customer requirements.
- Developed and delivered operational assessments, execution updates, and decision-support products in classified, time-sensitive environments.
- Managed operational schedules, resource alignment, and readiness activities to ensure mission continuity and rapid response capability.
- Maintained active TS/SCI clearance while supporting high-consequence national security missions.
Manager, Recall and Field Operations
Inmar Intelligence
Winston-Salem, NC
09.2016 - 03.2020
- Led a $25M annual revenue-producing division, overseeing large-scale recall and field operations across consumer product and pharmaceutical portfolios.
- Directed and mentored multi-tiered operational teams, including managers and coordinators, to execute complex, time-sensitive programs.
- Managed $10M+ in active revenue across 15+ consumer product recalls and 90+ pharmaceutical recalls while maintaining contractual performance and profitability.
- Owned P&L performance and provided business planning and strategic direction for Recall and Field Operations.
- Implemented and trained teams on new CRM systems, improving operational visibility, coordination, and performance.
Field Engineer
Frank L. Blum
Winston-Salem, NC
03.2015 - 03.2015
- Supported execution of an $8M+ construction project, coordinating with engineering teams, field staff, and subcontractors to deliver on schedule and within budget.
- Supervised 12+ subcontractors and managed field activities to meet critical milestones while maintaining quality and cost controls.
- Served as site safety lead, achieving zero safety incidents throughout project execution.
Engineer Officer
US Army
Multiple, Locations
05.2008 - 03.2015
- Planned and executed operations at the company, battalion, and brigade levels, supporting organizations of up to 5,500 personnel across training and operational environments.
- Led multi-disciplinary teams responsible for personnel, logistics, supply, and operational coordination, integrating resources to meet mission objectives.
- Commanded and supervised a 65-person construction engineer platoon, managing over $1.7M in equipment and executing complex training and operational missions.
- Served in key safety and risk roles, delivering training and conducting incident investigations to maintain operational readiness and zero-incident performance where applicable.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
Wake Forest University
Winston-salem, NC 08.2004 - 05.2008
Skills
Mission Integration
Interagency Coordination
Operational Planning & Execution
Civil-Military Operations
Cross-Functional Leadership
Organizational Leadership
Program & Project Controls
Complex Problem Solving
Stakeholder & Executive Engagement
Negotiation
Strategic & Operational Risk Management
Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Process Improvement
Supply Chain & Resource Coordination
Quote
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!
Henry Ford
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
Timeline
Project Manager
Wells Global LLC
01.2022 - Current
Sr. Operations Integrator
Leidos (DTRA Support)
04.2020 - 12.2022
Manager, Recall and Field Operations
Inmar Intelligence
09.2016 - 03.2020
Civil Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Colonel
US Army Reserve
03.2015 - Current
Field Engineer
Frank L. Blum
03.2015 - 03.2015
Engineer Officer
US Army
05.2008 - 03.2015
Bachelor of Arts -
Wake Forest University
08.2004 - 05.2008