Richard G Wheeler PMP Princeton, NJ 08542

Cell (267) 312-9012

[email protected]

Business Leader and Senior Program Manager Proven Hi-Tech leader that directed the creation of 18 innovative Medical, Military, Consumer, Cable, Retail, Industrial, Aerospace, and Service related products. Highly skilled in specification generation and the development and execution of programs that result in substantial revenue and increased profitability. Known for risk management , creative problem solving and process improvement. Passionate about creating the right team, the right solution, and the right product. Awarded 6 patents. 

Strong leadership and management skills. PMP certified

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Management of the customer interface, goals and deliverables

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Proposal development and detailed scheduling and budget management

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Directed 25 successful high tech multi-disciplinary HW and SW projects

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Customer, vendor, and contractor coordination

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Management and status reviews, documentation and gated program reviews

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Budgeting, cost and resource management

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Internal IP Generation and Product life cycle support

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Process improvement, ACE Associate, Six Sigma trained

Professional Experience Rapid Development Solutions, LLC, Ewing, NJ Provides consulting services Accelerating Integrated New Product Developments from Ideas to Market and Programs from Start to Finish while exceeding expectations. Our consultants rapidly create, lead or work with multi-disciplinary technical teams to develop, prototype, test and manufacture innovative market making & revenue generating products.

Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant 

2016 - Present

Directly providing rapid development solution services to clients including: consulting, brainstorming, product research, customer requirements analysis, specification generation, team building, resource planning, detailed program planning, scheduling and costing, risk analysis, program leadership and execution on schedule and on budget, detailed company process reviews and improvement, and product cost reduction analysis and implementation.

United Technologies Aerospace Systems - Sensors Unlimited, Inc. Princeton, NJ Is the world’s leading manufacturer of indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodiodes, arrays, and cameras for nearinfrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging applications.. Manager, Strategic Programs (3 teams of 4 – 7 engineers) 2014 - 2016  Developed and executed to schedule and budget a 2 year government contract that reduced cost, improved yield and improved performance in the production of high performance SWIR Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs). Led a team of process engineers in process development and improvement via Design of Experiments (DOEs) in materials and process steps at numerous stages of the production process achieving higher performance and lower cost FPAs.  Led an engineering team on a government contract that rapidly developed and is testing for delivery a new type of improved performance NIR SWIR camera with reduced Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP+C) on schedule and within budget. Created the potential for a new product line.  Led the development of a handheld NIR SWIR system with significantly reduced SWaP+C from concept to 3 working high performance customer demo units in 4 months. Generating early sales.

Richard Gregory Wheeler PMP [email protected] (267) 312-9012 Manager, Strategic Programs (team of 14+ directors and managers)

Page 2 2012 - 2014

Developed, managed and executed a $35M new facility buildout, tool moves and installations, commissioning, relocation and production startup for the Princeton UTAS office and R&D facility.  Led the design, development, buildout and certification of wafer processing class 100, 1,000 and 10,000 Cleanroom, R&D and Production cleanrooms and labs that exceed federal regulations.  Led/coordinated requirements definition and generated consensus for final design signoffs across all departments for the new facility’s features and operating specifications.  Led a team of directors and leads from all departments that designed, developed and executed the detailed new facility schedule and budget covering requirements definition, location selection, detailed design, buildout, commissioning, moving the whole company, production tools installation, and production certification and ramp-up. Coordinated closely with our EH&S group insuring site/relocation safety. Achieved zero accidents and injuries.  Led and coordinated the schedule and budget for the GC, Township, and all external contractors.  Provided weekly program and budget status reports to the site GM and the leadership team. ISR Focal Planes Value Stream Leader (a business within a business) (12+) 2011 - 2012  Led and managed Engineering and Operations teams - supporting existing products and services while growing the business. Delivered on $8M of revenue.  Provided Regular reports to management on execution of Value Stream's objectives. Grew the group from 14 to 21 people in 9 months.  Managed the $11M ISR FP Value Stream budget, consisting of customer funding and internal R&D funding.  Managed customer relationships - especially managing customer expectations, dealing with stakeholders at all levels inside and outside the organization, and leading the effort to respond to RFPs/RFQs. Led and participated in regular customer meetings.  Led efforts in Business Development to grow the Value Stream's core business - developing and sustaining Focal Plane Assemblies. Had lead role in developing a $71M 4 year strategic Internal Research and Development program.

DRS Technologies – Signal Solutions, Gaithersburg, MD Provider of high-performance Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) tuners, receivers, data recorders, signal processing, microwave components and geolocation systems.

New Product Program/Project Manager 

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2009 - 2011

Developed and led a high performance team on a 10 week time critical high performance 50MHz to 3 GHz SDR Transceiver new product development program delivering units to test 1 week ahead of schedule when long time employees said it couldn’t be done. This proof of concept unit is opening up strategic new markets and business opportunities. Coordinated with the Strategic Leadership Team, developed a prioritized new technology development strategy with detailed initiatives, timelines, and critical IP that resulted in new products for strategic customers in new markets. In parallel successfully led and completed on schedule 4 technically challenging product development programs with aggressive schedules and tightly controlled EACs.

Motorola Home & Network Mobility, Horsham, PA Provider of Video, Data, and Voice encryption, distribution and decryption products to Cable and Telco companies servicing businesses and consumers.

Director & Senior Customer Programs Manager   

2004 - 2009

Held total responsibility for 3 years for all H&NM Program management efforts supporting Charter Communications including product R&D, development, testing, deployment, sales and field issues. For 2 years led/directed a team of 6 Sr. Program Managers in the delivery and support of programs and products for Comcast H&NM’s largest customer. Achieved dramatic improvements in customer relations and service support enabling continuation of large multi-year agreements with both Charter ($140M/yr) and Comcast ($900M/yr).

Richard Gregory Wheeler PMP [email protected] (267) 312-9012

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Digital 5, Inc. Lawrenceville, NJ A leading provider of embedded digital signal processing software and systems, enabling top tier consumer OEMs to pioneer their digital audio and streaming video products

Director of Product Development and Senior Programs Manager    

1999 - 2003

Directed all embedded product R&D activities from specification generation through manufacturing coordination/manufacturing ramp-up and marketing support for 14 DSP based products. Directed an international team in the rapid development of a suite of consumer products utilizing innovative low cost wireless (802.11b/g) and wired Ethernet technologies (including a Wireless DVD Player that won several innovative product awards). Directed critical product development programs for: DSP based digital audio handheld Acoustiguide Tour Guide, Thomson Kazoo MP3 Player, and Philips' DPM Voice Recorder (resulting in $70 million in retail sales). Managed all scheduling and design to cost efforts. Created, managed, and grew Test & Quality Assurance group from 0 to 16 people with attendant increases in product quality and reduction of product development times

North American Dräger,

Part of a German company providing anesthesia and breathing equipment. NAD designs, manufactures, and services anesthesia machines for 50% of the U.S. market.

Manager of Systems Engineering    

1998 - 1999

Created and directed the Systems Engineering group responsible for system level definition for embedded systems, integration, and testing. Provided specification, technical, project, and process leadership to multi-disciplinary teams (hardware and software) developing anesthesia and information system products. Directed multi-disciplinary fast response team in the development of technical, field support, FDA submittal. and FDA solutions for MRI compatible anesthesia machine. Generated product development plan for high volume, modular, and low cost anesthesia machine utilizing new techniques and technologies.

AW Computer Systems, Inc. Cherry Hill, NJ A provider of security and point-of-sale system solutions to major retailers as a business partner with IBM Corporation and as a Microsoft Solution Provider.

Vice President of Operations  

1997 - 1998

Directed R&D efforts, development and field introduction of Checker Productivity Analyzer using digital machine vision, multi-platform (Linux, NT and POS terminal). Achieved rapid installations in three stores. Managed corporate strategic planning and development. Set priorities, provided technical leadership (hardware and software), assured production met schedule, provided field support, and implemented development processes and procedures.

Besam Automated Entrance Systems, Inc. Hightstown, NJ American subsidiary of Besam AB, world’s leading provider of automated entrance systems for retail, commercial, and institutional applications. 1996 U.S. revenues of $54 million with 300 employees.

Vice President of Technical Planning and Development   

1995 - 1997

Led large-scale new product development projects, manufacturing engineering services, applications design, code compliance, hotline support, technical field training, and technical documentation. Orchestrated design and development of 6 new products entering production to generate over $1 million in new revenues in 1997. For all programs managed all scheduling and design to cost efforts. Restructured and revitalized Engineering which improved product development and product support. Realigned staffing, redesigned core processes, and implemented measurable performance standards. Implemented project tracking, engineering request, and engineering change and process change notice systems that enhanced project/product management processes throughout the entire organization.

Richard Gregory Wheeler PMP [email protected] (267) 312-9012

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Previous Experience Checkpoint Systems Inc. Thorofare, NJ Provider of integrated security solutions protecting assets in retail, industrial, and institutional applications. 1994 sales of $134 million with 1100 employees.

Manager, Systems Product Development PA Consulting Group, Electronic Systems Group, Princeton Junction, NJ An international consulting firm. The Electronic Systems Group develops new concepts and products that utilize electronics, software and mechanical designs to create new industry standards.

Project Leader and Consultant Simmonds Precision, Instruments Systems Division, Vergennes, VT Leader in fuel gauging systems for commercial and military aircraft.

Manager, Fuel Gauging Products Group Analytical Biochemistry Laboratories, Columbia, MO Analytical and environmental testing services and products laboratory.

Research and Development Engineer Education Masters of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Clarkson University Fully funded graduate school via Teaching Assistant Scholarship

Bachelors of Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Clarkson University

Patents Awarded six patents:     

Electronic Article Security System with DSP and Increased Detection Range (5,353,011) Fiber Optic Coupling Device (5,515,468 and 5,708,743) Optical/Fiber Sensor for Structure Monitoring (4,930,852) Optical Fiber Mounting System (5,029,977) Automatic Solvent Removal and Exchange System (4,604,363)

Personal Emergency First Aid Responder, Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster, avid Disc Golf player, Kundalini Yoga Teacher, and enjoy skiing, mountain biking, golf and most things outdoors.