Gena Ellis

Spearheaded talent acquisition and operational alignment for the Sentinel Program, meeting 100% of engineering and program staffing demands. Designed performance dashboards to track recruitment KPIs, cutting hiring cycle times by 15%. Managed a multimillion-dollar operating budget, driving cost-effective resource allocation across technical functions.

Championed cross-departmental process development, enhancing synergy between HR, engineering, and Integrated Program Teams (IPTs). Deployed strategic workforce planning methodologies that improved productivity by 20% across engineering operations.

Led systems engineering efforts for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program. Delivered complex systems performance models and simulations under strict DoD and ITAR compliance, exceeding performance targets and ensuring alignment between engineering and business functions.

Directed secure systems engineering and architecture design for a multibillion-dollar GBSD program. Coordinated stakeholder engagement and technical delivery to support the successful capture of a $13B+ defense contract.

Directed cybersecurity integration and compliance initiatives, ensuring systems met DoD and NIST security frameworks. Led the development of risk management strategies, achieving multiple Authorization to Operate (ATO) certifications.

Provided strategic cybersecurity oversight across classified aerospace programs. Designed and delivered security training programs to elevate team performance and compliance awareness.

Authored and maintained secure System Security Plans (SSPs), enabling successful accreditation of multiple defense systems. Conducted forensic analysis and threat detection to enhance incident response.