Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Availability
References
Desired Locations
Work Availability
Software
Interests
Work Preference
Certification
Websites
Timeline
Volunteer
Will Wade

Will Wade

Vacaville,United States

Summary

Dynamic public sector leader with extensive experience at NASA, local government, and the U.S. Air Force excelling in cross-functional team leadership and strategic communication. Proven track record in managing multimillion-dollar budgets, project management, and support services. Adept at logistics planning, driving initiatives that optimize resource management and ensure mission success in high-stakes environments.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Board of Trustees Member

Travis Unified School District
Fairfield, CA
11.2023 - Current
  • Developed initiatives for improving educational programs and resources to best serve district's 5,400 students and 350 staff serving Travis Air Force Base, and portions of Fairfield and Vacaville.
  • Reviewed and approved the district's $87M operating budget to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
  • Developed the district's first strategic plan to set short-term and long-term goals for the organization.
  • Updated District's Facility Master Plan.
  • Championed a successful bond campaign worth $65 million.

Aviation Operations Management, Division Chief

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Moffett Field, United States
07.2023 - Current
  • Leads a cross-functional team of 12 administrative, safety, maintenance, and management personnel who deliver uncrewed aerial systems to support NASA research.
  • Managed annual budget of $3.125M for labor, procurement, and travel expenses.
  • Acted as primary NASA liaison for Moffett Field tenants and aviation stakeholders.
  • Oversaw federal facilities valued at over $150 million, including two large hangar complexes.
  • Administered airworthiness review process and chaired Flight Readiness Review safety board.
  • Aviation safety subject matter expert and compliance manager.

C-5M Simulator Instructor Pilot

Delaware Resource Group
Travis AFB, United States
06.2021 - 07.2023
  • Aircrew Training System's C-5M Test pilot responsible for evaluating simulator performance and accuracy.
  • Conducts operational test and evaluation of C-5M simulator functions; validates hardware & software effectiveness.
  • Performs recurring simulator acceptance tests to ensure system meets contractor and government requirements.
  • Provides C-5M pilot instruction for active duty and reserve aircrew members in aircraft, classroom, and simulator environments.
  • Subject Matter Expert in the development of training curriculum.
  • Conducts ground training for crewmembers, including worldwide flight procedures, aircraft systems, policy reviews, and crew coordination.

821 Contingency Response Group Commander/CEO

US Air Force
Travis AFB, United States
05.2018 - 06.2021
  • Led 558 Airmen and three sub organizations who rapidly open airfields in support of international humanitarian relief or combat operations.
  • Led teams of up to 150 joint service members in hostile and unforgiving environments to achieve strategic national military objectives.
  • Led the Department of Defense's airfield assessment team in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian; partnered with the U.S. and international relief organizations to assess four damaged airfields, and expedited relief supplies to over 70,000 Bahamian nationals.
  • Simultaneously managed civil engineers, aircraft maintenance, aerial port, command and control, aircrew, intelligence, fuels, supply, contracting, security, communications, emergency management, medical, and training programs to ensure teams are able to deploy anywhere within 12 hours.
  • Managed personal and professional development programs for over 32 multi-disciplinary teams; created a recurring mentorship program to promote individual and organizational-level success.
  • Managed an $8.8M annual operating budget, over $45M of equipment and weapons, three facilities worth $24M, and 28 programs of record.
  • Led vehicle modernization program worth $5M across four separate organizations; led a multi-discipline team to define mission requirements, identify material solutions, systematically evaluate courses of action, and coordinate corporate-level funding.

Chief, European Deployment and Distribution Center

US Department of Defense
Stuttgart, Germany
06.2016 - 06.2018
  • Chief of US European Command's Deployment and Distribution Center (DDOC).
  • Led 21 military members and German civilians responsible for coordinating movements for 50,000 U.S. personnel and their equipment throughout Europe.
  • Synchronized transportation plans with regional partners, suppliers, and governmental agencies to ensure effective and efficient operations.
  • Coordinated U.S. logistical improvement plans worth $4.8B with North American Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU) to strengthen regional defenses.
  • Created a time phased, prioritized implementation strategy to identify and address European air, land and sea logistical shortfalls; informed U.S. and European senior leaders about strategic risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities; genesis of EU's Military Mobility Strategy.
  • Ran quarterly working groups to synchronize key stakeholders, monitor key performance indicators, and make incremental changes in existing programs.
  • Represented U.S. interests as a voting member on the Movement Coordination Center - Europe working group; shaped international posture.
  • Finalized U.S. participation in ground breaking multinational exchange of air, sea and surface transportation services between 28 nations; coordinated funding support agreement between U.S. Transportation Command and partner nations' Ministries of Defense.
  • Prepared and presented briefings to senior U.S. Department of Defense and State Department officials to align whole of government solutions to complex international challenges.

Air Refueling Pilot and COO

U.S. Air Force Active Duty
Travis AFB, United States
06.2010 - 06.2016
  • Led 160 flight crew members at Travis AFB and McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, responsible for conducting air-to-air refueling operations in support of high-priority missions; regularly deployed crews to support combat operations in the Middle East and Africa.
  • Executed comprehensive safety-of-flight programs with zero preventable mishaps during 50,000 KC-10 flying hours.
  • Managed multiple modernization programs worth $3.1M to adapt the organization's capabilities to meet emerging DoD requirements.
  • Served as the Chief of Staff at Travis Air Force Base, and Wing Inspector General at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Staff Officer

Headquarters Air Mobility Command
Scott AFB, IL
06.2006 - 06.2009
  • Developmental program intern; 1 of 13 competitively selected participants out of 5,000 candidates to serve on C-suite staff for career broadening.
  • Project officer for C-suite level executives; wrote senior communication products, and planned strategic conferences for up to 4,500 attendees.
  • Wrote senior leader speeches and built strategic PowerPoint presentations.
  • Organized multiple C-suite-level events to review corporate requirements and strategy; enabled strategic decision-makers.
  • Managed the organization's no-fail logistical support plans for the nation's highest leaders; received, interpreted, and tasked the required units.

Airlift Pilot

U.S. Air Force Active Duty
Vacaville, California
06.1999 - 06.2006
  • Combat proven C-5 instructor/evaluator pilot.
  • Subject Matter Expert on strategic airlift operations, international flight operations, air to air refueling, and tactical employment.
  • Modernized aircrew training syllabus to include tactical training events required to operate in post-911 operating environment.

Education

Master's degree - National Security Strategy

National War College
Fort McNair, DC, United States
01.2016

Master's degree - Military Art and Science

Air Command and Staff College - In Residence
Maxwell AFB, AL, United States
01.2010

Master's degree - Public Administration

University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK, United States
01.2009

Bachelor's degree - Engineering Sciences

US Air Force Academy
Air Force Academy, CO, United States
01.1998

Skills

  • Cross-functional team leadership
  • Resource and facility management
  • Strategic communication
  • Aviation safety
  • Board governance
  • Logistics planning

Availability

Permanent, Full-time

References

  • Erin Cook, (843) 367-0651, NASA Deputy Director, erin.c.cook@nasa.gov
  • Sandy Person, (707) 864-1855, sandyperson4@gmail.com
  • Mark Dillon, Maj Gen (ret), Director Of Business Development, (808) 354-9814, mark79dillon@gmail.com
  • David Hammerschmidt, Senior Logistician, 618-791-6937, dkahammer71@gmail.com
  • Shawn Kelly, Employer, Captain, (720) 470-8578, flying_irish@comcast.net

Desired Locations

Travis AFB, California, United States

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Software

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Interests

Aviation

White Water Rafting

Water sports

Work Preference

Work Type

Full TimePart TimeContract Work

Certification

  • Licensed Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot - 1999
  • Licensed Commercial Drone Operator - 2024

Timeline

Board of Trustees Member

Travis Unified School District
11.2023 - Current

Aviation Operations Management, Division Chief

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
07.2023 - Current

C-5M Simulator Instructor Pilot

Delaware Resource Group
06.2021 - 07.2023

821 Contingency Response Group Commander/CEO

US Air Force
05.2018 - 06.2021

Chief, European Deployment and Distribution Center

US Department of Defense
06.2016 - 06.2018

Air Refueling Pilot and COO

U.S. Air Force Active Duty
06.2010 - 06.2016

Staff Officer

Headquarters Air Mobility Command
06.2006 - 06.2009

Airlift Pilot

U.S. Air Force Active Duty
06.1999 - 06.2006

Master's degree - National Security Strategy

National War College

Master's degree - Military Art and Science

Air Command and Staff College - In Residence

Master's degree - Public Administration

University of Oklahoma

Bachelor's degree - Engineering Sciences

US Air Force Academy

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