Gary Kessler
Gary Kessler
Member
Mr. Gary Kessler is an Independent Consultant for his own company, Kessler Integrated Systems Solutions, LLC since January 2018. In this capacity he performs a broad range of technical, management and organizational efforts in support of government and industry in the execution of Department of Defense activities in the areas of strategic planning, program management, work force development, systems engineering and test and evaluation, primarily focused on navy manned/unmanned platforms and weapon systems. In addition, he serves on the Boards of several large and small businesses, the University Systems of Maryland Southern Maryland, and is the current President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance.
Mr. Kessler was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in August 2006 and had over 35 years of Federal Service.
Mr. Gary Kessler served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs) (DASN(AIR)) from October 2014 to January 2018. He was the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN(RD&A)) on matters relating to aircraft (manned and unmanned), air-launched weapons, cruise missiles, airborne sensors and avionics. DASN(Air) monitors and advises ASN(RD&A) on programs managed by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEO).
Mr. Kessler served as Executive Director for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) from April 2010 to October 2014, responsible for ensuring that business and financial objectives were met and that the overall mission was executed in a safe and efficient manner. In his role as Deputy Assistant Commander for Test & Evaluation for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), he was responsible for the appropriate implementation of policy and guidance of T&E matters emanating from the offices of Commander, Vice Commander, and Deputy Commander in addition to the successful execution of T&E throughout NAVAIR.
Mr. Kessler served as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation in the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO(U&W)) from October 2007 to April 2010. As the Deputy PEO for Unmanned Aviation, Mr. Kessler was responsible for the direction of all Navy and Marine Corps Unmanned Aviation programs including endurance, tactical, combat and joint UAV programs, and the Navy’s targets and decoy systems programs. In addition, he was the Chairman of the NATO Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Air Vehicles (JCGUAV), which oversees all aspects of NATO UAS acquisition, and collaboration of UAS issues among all NATO countries.
Mr. Kessler served as the Director for Flight Test Engineering from August 2006 to September 2007, where he served as the Chief Flight Test Engineer for Naval Aviation. He was responsible for managing and directing more than 800 engineers and engineering technicians performing integrated systems evaluation, experimentation and test across three sites within the Naval Air Systems Command.
Other assignments included: Principle Deputy Program Manager for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA‑201) (2003); E-2 IPT Lead (PMA-231) (2002); F/A-18 Deputy Program Manager for Systems Development (PMA-265) (1999); F-14 Precision Strike IPT Lead (PMA-241) (1993); Carrier Suitability Flight Test Engineer (1982).
Mr. Kessler graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and aerospace engineering. He received his master's degree in business administration in 1987. He received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in May 2016. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, the Senior Executive Management Development Program and the Leadership Maryland Program. Personal awards include the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award, FCT Program Manager of the Year, ANA Edward H. Heineman Award, University of Maryland Glenn L. Martin Medal and the Meritorious, Superior and Distinguished Civil Service Awards.
Contact
Mr. Gary Kessler is an Independent Consultant for his own company, Kessler Integrated Systems Solutions, LLC since January 2018. In this capacity he performs a broad range of technical, management and organizational efforts in support of government and industry in the execution of Department of Defense activities in the areas of strategic planning, program management, work force development, systems engineering and test and evaluation, primarily focused on navy manned/unmanned platforms and weapon systems. In addition, he serves on the Boards of several large and small businesses, the University Systems of Maryland Southern Maryland, and is the current President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance.
Mr. Kessler was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in August 2006 and had over 35 years of Federal Service.
Mr. Gary Kessler served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs) (DASN(AIR)) from October 2014 to January 2018. He was the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN(RD&A)) on matters relating to aircraft (manned and unmanned), air-launched weapons, cruise missiles, airborne sensors and avionics. DASN(Air) monitors and advises ASN(RD&A) on programs managed by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEO).
Mr. Kessler served as Executive Director for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) from April 2010 to October 2014, responsible for ensuring that business and financial objectives were met and that the overall mission was executed in a safe and efficient manner. In his role as Deputy Assistant Commander for Test & Evaluation for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), he was responsible for the appropriate implementation of policy and guidance of T&E matters emanating from the offices of Commander, Vice Commander, and Deputy Commander in addition to the successful execution of T&E throughout NAVAIR.
Mr. Kessler served as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation in the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO(U&W)) from October 2007 to April 2010. As the Deputy PEO for Unmanned Aviation, Mr. Kessler was responsible for the direction of all Navy and Marine Corps Unmanned Aviation programs including endurance, tactical, combat and joint UAV programs, and the Navy’s targets and decoy systems programs. In addition, he was the Chairman of the NATO Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Air Vehicles (JCGUAV), which oversees all aspects of NATO UAS acquisition, and collaboration of UAS issues among all NATO countries.
Mr. Kessler served as the Director for Flight Test Engineering from August 2006 to September 2007, where he served as the Chief Flight Test Engineer for Naval Aviation. He was responsible for managing and directing more than 800 engineers and engineering technicians performing integrated systems evaluation, experimentation and test across three sites within the Naval Air Systems Command.
Other assignments included: Principle Deputy Program Manager for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA‑201) (2003); E-2 IPT Lead (PMA-231) (2002); F/A-18 Deputy Program Manager for Systems Development (PMA-265) (1999); F-14 Precision Strike IPT Lead (PMA-241) (1993); Carrier Suitability Flight Test Engineer (1982).
Mr. Kessler graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and aerospace engineering. He received his master's degree in business administration in 1987. He received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in May 2016. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, the Senior Executive Management Development Program and the Leadership Maryland Program. Personal awards include the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award, FCT Program Manager of the Year, ANA Edward H. Heineman Award, University of Maryland Glenn L. Martin Medal and the Meritorious, Superior and Distinguished Civil Service Awards.