MATT G. MCKINNEY
2971 W. Calle Lucinda, Tucson
Summary
Senior TS/SCI-cleared leader with 25+ years of aerospace & defense experience. Drives early customer engagement, requirements shaping, and capture management across advanced air warfare and effectors portfolios. Proven at translating mission needs into executable strategies, aligning investments to the budget landscape (PPBE), and leading cross-functional teams across engineering, program management, strategy, and finance to deliver timely, mission-aligned outcomes.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Director
(Operations Group Commander)
01.2022 - 01.2025
- Directed a 1,700-person multinational organization across the Caribbean and Central America to deliver strategic outcomes.
- Owned portfolio governance; aligned $100M+ infrastructure modernization and $14.4M O&M to mission priorities.
- Established KPIs, dashboards, and quarterly reviews that improved readiness and risk visibility across five organizations.
- Built executive relationships with regional governments, interagency, and allies; implemented engagement plans and leadership touchpoints.
- Led crisis governance and communications to coordinate humanitarian assistance/evacuations while sustaining steady-state operations.
- Drove early requirements shaping and capture management for regional operations and technology concepts, guiding near-/out-year investments.
Program Director, Command & Control
(Chief of Combat Operations)
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Directed a 79-person division for enterprise C2 operations—synchronizing missions, resources, and risk across the theater.
- Redesigned structure and processes to sustain output amid budget reductions; improved cycle times and throughput.
- Integrated 39 partner-nation representatives into planning/execution, strengthening coalition trust and unity of effort.
- Instituted metrics-driven decision support and executive reporting for improved situational awareness and responsiveness.
- Mentored rising leaders; implemented competency-based development to increase capacity and continuity.
Program Director, Strategic Requirements & Capabilities
(US Strategic Command)
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Built deep customer intimacy with DoD senior leaders; translated nuclear deterrence/global strike mission needs into strategies aligned to investments.
- Directed capture management and pipeline shaping; integrated STRATCOM requirements into industry roadmaps and acquisition strategies.
- Drove disciplined requirements generation and governance with engineering, PM, and interagency partners to strengthen execution and trust.
- Delivered executive briefs and decision support; influenced budget landscape, acquisition strategies, and capability development.
Director, Joint Simulation & Exercises
(Squadron Commander)
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Directed a 140-member organization providing joint/coalition training and experimentation aligned to emerging threats and concepts.
- Expanded distributed C2 training capacity by 26% through architecture modernization, modeling & simulation, and process improvements.
- Secured $9.6M in modernization funds; prioritized investments against a multi-year roadmap to improve readiness and throughput.
- Built innovation partnerships with research agencies and think tanks; matured concepts and accelerated adoption.
Director, Strategic Targeting & Intelligence Integration
(US Central Command)
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Led cross-functional planning integrating intelligence, operations, and policy; translated objectives into prioritized lines of effort.
- Co-developed multinational planning frameworks with NATO and interagency partners to enable coordinated resourcing.
- Delivered executive briefs and decision materials for time-sensitive operations, strengthening senior-level trust.
Senior Training & Curriculum Development Manager
(Weapons School Instructor)
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Directed elite graduate-level training and doctrine for electronic warfare/advanced air warfare; mentored 77 graduates annually; institutionalized standards across the Combat Air Forces.
Air Launch Precision Effectors Manager
(Bomber Operations)
2003 - 01.2010
- Managed $283M in aircraft systems and mission planning for global operations; standardized procedures and advanced integration of precision effectors.
Air-Launched Effectors (Weapons Systems O – 37th Bomb Squadron, B-1B)
Ellsworth AFB
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Managed $283M in aircraft systems and mission planning for global operations; standardized procedures and advanced integration of precision effectors.
Education
MSS - Strategic Studies (Air War College)
M.A. - International Relations - Middle East
M.A. - Military Operational Art And Science
B.S. - Business Management
Joint Professional Military Education I & II
Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Executive Course
Skills
- Requirements & Capabilities (R&C)
- Early Customer Engagement
- Capture Management & Pipeline
- Advanced Air Warfare Systems
- Air & Ground-Launched Effectors
- Program Management
- DoD Acquisition & PPBE
- Budget Landscape & Investment Strategy
- Joint/Coalition Operations
- Risk & Resource Management
- Strategic Customer Engagement
- Command & Control Modernization
- Classified/SAR Program Leadership
- Modeling & Simulation
- Crisis Operations
Accomplishments
- Directed organizations up to 1,700 personnel; managed $100M+ portfolios; delivered measurable outcomes across multiple theaters.
- Built deep customer intimacy with DoD and allies; translated evolving mission needs into prioritized requirements and investment roadmaps.
- Led enterprise C2/training modernization—governance, KPIs, and dashboards that increased readiness and throughput.
- Shaped requirements for effectors and long-range strike; informed resourcing decisions and campaign plans at STRATCOM/CENTCOM levels.
- Trusted advisor to senior leaders; delivered executive briefings, gate/color team reviews, and decision support for high-visibility initiatives.
Certification
- Weapons School Graduate
- Joint Professional Military Education I & II
- Squadron Officer School
- Program Management (DAU Level III)
- Top Secret / SCI Clearance (Special Access Program inactive)
Timeline
Senior Director
(Operations Group Commander)
01.2022 - 01.2025
Program Director, Command & Control
(Chief of Combat Operations)
01.2021 - 01.2022
Program Director, Strategic Requirements & Capabilities
(US Strategic Command)
01.2019 - 01.2020
Director, Joint Simulation & Exercises
(Squadron Commander)
01.2015 - 01.2019
Director, Strategic Targeting & Intelligence Integration
(US Central Command)
01.2013 - 01.2015
Senior Training & Curriculum Development Manager
(Weapons School Instructor)
01.2010 - 01.2012
Air-Launched Effectors (Weapons Systems O – 37th Bomb Squadron, B-1B)
Ellsworth AFB
01.2003 - 01.2008
Air Launch Precision Effectors Manager
(Bomber Operations)
2003 - 01.2010
MSS - Strategic Studies (Air War College)
M.A. - International Relations - Middle East
M.A. - Military Operational Art And Science
B.S. - Business Management
Joint Professional Military Education I & II
Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Executive Course
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