GARY K. KESSLER JOINS ADVISORY BOARD of EXECUTIVE 1 HOLDING COMPANY

Gary K. Kessler

Executive 1 Holding Company, LLC (EX1) is pleased to announce that Gary K. Kessler will join its Advisory Board this week. Mr. Kessler is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs) and has served for over 35 years in the Senior Executive Service to the federal Government in program management, engineering, flight testing, weapons, strategy, and budget.

EX1 is a private holding firm that invests in AI/ML/NLP and software-as-a-service (SaaS). EX1's current investments in Plasticity, Inc., HumanTouch, LLC, and CORASCloud, Inc. (SaaS) are positioned to lead in these technologies.

Mr. Kessler is currently an Independent Consultant for his own company, Kessler Integrated Systems Solutions, LLC. In this capacity, he performs a broad range of technical, management and organizational efforts in support of government, military, and industry. He also consults on strategic planning, program management, work force development, systems engineering and test and evaluation (T&E), primarily focused on U.S. Navy manned/unmanned platforms and weapon systems. Further, Mr. Kessler is a Board member for several businesses, including The Patuxent Partnership, and is the current President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance.

Mr. Kessler started his career as a flight test engineer and has a long career of working in the U.S. Navy to deliver high performance capabilities within budgetary limitations and rigid timelines. His model-based systems engineering programs were some of the first of their kind, and he has long applied commercial best practices within the DoD to successfully run acquisition programs for NAVAIR, as well as directing all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Unmanned Aviation programs. Mr. Kessler graduated from the University of Maryland in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, and later received a Masters' degree in Business Administration. 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. 

"Throughout my career, I have looked for ways to improve and advance the best solutions in aviation and aerospace within the U.S. military," Mr. Kessler said. "What we have learned in the DoD is that real innovation is coming from the non-traditional industrial base. In my role on the EX1 Advisory Board, I want to continue my work identifying cutting-edge companies and solutions to outpace the threats to our national security."

EX1 CEO Moe Jafari said, "Gary Kessler's understanding of how the Armed Forces operate and how our companies can respond to the needs of the DoD is invaluable," he said. "Our mission is to serve our country by responding to complex IT and cyber challenges specific to defense and the intelligence community. We want to compete in the DoD environment, aggressively grow and are eager to benefit from Mr. Kessler's stewardship."

Source: Executive 1 Holding Company, LLC