ATI Leadership
President & CEO
Chris Van Metre's Bio
Chris Van Metre was born in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a career naval officer. He moved frequently with his family many times during his childhood starting school in Charleston, SC, and ultimately graduating from high school in Virginia Beach, VA. After high school, Chris attended the University of Notre Dame on a Naval ROTC scholarship and majored in Aerospace Engineering. After graduation, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy and immediately began nuclear power and submarine initial training. After completion of this training, Chris reported to his first submarine duty assignment in Charleston, SC. It was during this assignment that he married the former Rose McEwan of Charleston, SC. He completed a 20-year Navy career that included four submarine assignments, including command of a fast attack submarine, as well as a variety of shore assignments focused on training and education. After retirement, Chris returned to the Lowcountry and joined the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), a small Research and Development management services company and subsidiary of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), in North Charleston, SC. Originally hired by ATI as a project manager in May 2005, Chris soon transitioned into a Business Development role, responsible for growing ATI’s market reach and business portfolio.
In April 2012, he became the third President and CEO of the renamed Advanced Technology International (ATI). In this role, he oversees the strategic direction of ATI, which has grown to a $1.5 Billion collaboration management services company. ATI’s mission is to lessen the burden of government by supporting federal government agencies, industry, and universities in the collaborative execution of our nation’s most innovative research initiatives. ATI-leads R&D collaborations that cover a broad array of technology domains including armaments, biotechnology, electromagnetic spectrum, space technologies, advanced materials, shipbuilding, and ship repair. Building multi-disciplinary teams from the private sector (Fortune 500 companies to small businesses), federal agencies and universities to deliver prototype technologies is a prominent feature of these programs.
Chris’ experience includes strategic planning, technology development road-mapping and multi-organizational and multi-disciplinary consortia formation. His technical and engineering expertise has been invaluable in creating teams to focus R&D efforts in many areas. He has been the catalyst behind new alliances formed among stakeholder groups from industry, academia and the federal government to define and prioritize technology requirements and potential solutions, where robust collaboration among diverse groups was critical to a successful outcome. During his tenure at ATI, Chris has overseen two acquisitions and, in 2017, the sale of ATI from SCRA to Analytic Services (ANSER) in Falls Church, VA. As President and CEO, Chris has led the growth of ATI from annual revenues of $150 Million to $1.5 Billion with ATI repeatedly being recognized as a South Carolina Best Places to Work.
Chris is very active in the local community, serving on the Lowcountry Heart Walk Executive Leadership team, as Chair of the Citadel’s Engineering Leadership and Program Management Advisory Board, as the Regional Director of Officials for SC High School League Swimming and as a mentor for several local young professionals. Chris and Rose are the incredibly proud parents of three children: Brian, a Navy Lieutenant teaching NROTC at Notre Dame, Ashleigh, a Navy Lieutenant physician in her first year of residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and Regan, a Navy Ensign in first year of Medical School at USC-Greenville. They are also the parents of four dogs – two English Bulldogs, a golden retriever and a Great Dane mix.
Chief Financial Officer
Julia Martin's Bio
Ms. Martin is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of ATI. In this role, she works with ATI’s leadership team and its Board of Directors to develop strategy for the organization. She provides financial leadership, serves as liaison for financial reporting to federal agencies, external auditors and company stakeholders and provides supervision and management of the day-to-day financial operations of ATI. She directs banking and credit activities, ensures the development of the Annual Operating Plan, and maintains appropriate capital structure to support the plan. Ms. Martin ensures regulatory compliance and establishes appropriate internal controls for the business in order to manage and reduce risk, and oversees the estimating, pricing and rate development for federal contracts. She also serves as primary interface with corporate legal counsel for financial and tax issues. As CFO, she serves on the Ethics and Compliance Committee, IT Steering Committee and the Retirement Plan Committee. She currently supervises the Accounting and Finance Department.
Ms. Martin was previously the CFO of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) with similar responsibilities. In addition, she served as Treasurer of ATI and SC Launch, Inc., served as primary interface with the Audit/Finance Committees of ATI, SC Launch, Inc. and SCRA Boards of Directors, supervised the Human Resource department, supervised facilities operations, and supported early stage investment activities. Other positions within SCRA included Director of Budgeting and Costing and senior financial analyst. Her responsibilities included pricing and proposal development, performing financial research, analyses and management reporting, compliance and managing auditor interface.
Prior to joining SCRA in 1993, Ms. Martin was with First Federal of South Carolina where she served as a branch manager. Julia earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, with an additional Major in Accounting. She has completed graduate coursework at the College of Charleston and is a Certified Management Accountant. She is currently a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Financial Executives Institute, and the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Martin is a Class of 2014 Liberty Fellow and 2008 alumnus of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Shield Ministries and as its Finance Committee Chair. She previously served on the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, as its Vice-Chair for Innovation and Vice-Chair for Finance, as well as the Board of Trustees for Charleston Southern University and Chair of its Finance and Investments.
Chief Management Officer
Keith Sauls' Bio
Mr. Keith Sauls serves as the Chief Management Officer for ATI. Before his move to ATI, he served as the Vice President for Business Services at Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER) where he was responsible for a variety of services to include Security, Human Resources and Recruiting, Media Services, Information Technology and Corporate Communications.
Keith served in a variety of positions at ANSER prior to becoming a corporate officer. These positions included various analyst and management positions within the company. In these positions, he focused initially on addressing some of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) most complex issues through the federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operated by ANSER on behalf of DHS. These issues included the creation of the first National Response Framework, a full-scale revision to the National Incident Management System and the first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. He later transitioned to a Business Services role starting with the later phases of implementation of the Oracle Enterprise Business System and continuing with full oversight of all Oracle EBS operations.
Prior to joining ANSER, Keith served for 27 years in the U.S. Navy. A nuclear-trained submarine officer, he completed multiple shipboard assignments, culminating in command of USS ASPRO, USS DRUM and USS TAUTOG. Following his command tour, he completed assignments at Commander Submarine Force Atlantic headquarters and with the EISENHOWER Carrier Battle Group where he served as the Atlantic Submarine Force Plans and Policy Officer and subsequently as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) and as the Information Warfare Commander. His final active duty assignment was as the Deputy Director of the War on Terrorism Directorate on the Joint Staff in Washington, DC where he was responsible for Combatting Weapons of Mass Destruction and War on Terrorism policy.
Keith is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He subsequently earned a Masters degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University.
Chief Operating Officer
Mica Dolan's Bio
Ms. Mica Dolan is the Chief Operating Officer for ATI. She is responsible for the developing company-wide best practices, as well as implementing and leading business operations and establish policies to promote ATI’s mission and vision.
Prior to this role, Ms. Dolan served as Senior Vice President of Contracts and Procurement. In that role, she was responsible for negotiating and overseeing ATI’s multi-billion dollar contract portfolio. She was a key contributor to the startup of a number of consortia, including formation, contract negotiation and execution, operating procedure development and implementation, member training, and working hand in hand with the government throughout the execution of consortia based Other Transaction Agreements.
Ms. Dolan has an M.B.A from The Citadel and a B.S. in Finance and Management from the University of South Carolina. She is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager and is also a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow.
Sr. Vice President, Program Management Office
Shawn Gore's Bio
Mr. Gore leads ATI’s Program Management Office with strategic and operational responsibility for all program areas. His principal responsibilities include process improvement, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, communications and network development, and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Gore is responsible for leading improvement initiatives and is the driving force for managing improvement initiatives across teams to deliver business results. He plays a key role in influencing change within and across ATI divisions and will build capability through knowledge sharing and coaching; engage effectively with stakeholders; and deploy appropriate methodologies and toolsets.
Prior to this role, Mr. Gore served as the Sr. Vice President of the Armament Technologies Division at ATI. Mr. Gore led the coordination and execution of solicitation processes and single-point contracting efforts for five programs, to include the largest program managed by ATI, the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC). DOTC is an integration of Government, Industry, and Academia into a single enterprise executing joint and co-funded initiatives; sharing and developing goals and objectives, resources and assets; and utilizing existing personnel, facilities and equipment. He also supported the overall management of the National Armaments Consortium which includes over 900 companies and academic institutions brought together to enhance warfighter lethality and survivability.
In addition to DOTC, the Armament Technologies division included the Aviation and Missiles Technology Consortium, Naval Surface Technology Innovation Consortium, Naval Energetic Systems and Technologies Consortium, and the Border Security Technology Consortium, which are all modeled in some part after DOTC. These consortia are in various stages of execution, but all are focused on advancing the state of the art in their respective technology domains.
Mr. Gore previously served as the Program Director for the DOTC and NAC programs. His specific responsibilities for the DOTC program included assisting with schedule management, milestone and deliverable tracking, and invoice tracking. He also completed the quarterly reports to the government detailing program and financial status. For NAC, he managed a nationally distributed group of industry and academic partners. Mr. Gore understands the correlation of technical accomplishments with financial progress and making sure customer requirements and deliverables are meeting the planned objectives, on time and within budget. Mr. Gore has the innate ability to both comprehend and compile complicated data in an easy to understand format.
Prior to joining the ATI, Mr. Gore served as a Civil Engineer in the USAF. Second Lieutenant Gore led the Construction Management Element responsible for $40 million of active facilities/infrastructure construction and repair. Captain Gore spent a year and half as the Civil Engineer Program Flight Commander, responsible for the program development of all future construction and repair, developing a program valued over $100 million. Captain Gore’s last year in the Air Force was spent in the Middle East as a Civil Engineer Operations Flight Commander. He supervised 200 military and 60 contracted civilians in the daily maintenance and repair operations for the largest base in Southwest Asia.
Mr. Gore was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Engineering and Environmental Management from The Air Force Institute of Technology. He received a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from The Citadel. Mr. Gore received his Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification in June 2010.
Vice President,
Medical & Information Management Division
Mike Atkinson's Bio
Mr. Atkinson has a passion for providing U.S. warfighters with the innovative technologies needed to ensure the United States remains ahead of our adversaries—a passion rooted in his 20-year Naval career. Today, Mr. Atkinson pursues that passion as a Vice President of the company’s Medical and Software Services division, a portfolio of programs that encompasses the health sciences, homeland security, electromagnetic spectrum technology, and public safety technology domains. Under Mr. Atkinson’s leadership, each program develops cutting-edge technologies that advance warfighter capabilities and enhance national security. The portfolio also includes the Global Alliance South Carolina, a private non-profit corporation created to stimulate education exchanges, research collaborations and business partnerships with stakeholders in South Carolina, Israel, and Estonia.
With more than a decade and a half of experience at ATI, Mr. Atkinson previously served as the Sea, Air and Space Division lead, where he oversaw the management of five Other Transaction (OT) consortia and a DARPA-funded consortium established for satellite standards development. He also served as the Program Manager for the formation of the National Spectrum Consortium (NSC), the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) and the Information Warfare Research Project Consortium (IWRP).
As previously mentioned, Mr. Atkinson was a Master Chief with the United States Naval service. He served as a nuclear operator and senior department advisor on board fast-attack submarines and served as a senior instructor and class director for various Naval Nuclear training commands. Following his 21 years with the Navy, Mr. Atkinson was a health physicist with the government at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston serving as the Engineering Manager for the NAVSEA RADIAC Calibration Certification Program. Mr. Atkinson received a Bachelor of Science (and Applied Science Technology) degree in Nuclear Engineering from Thomas Edison University in Trenton, New Jersey and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Atkinson has also received his Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute in 2005. More recently, he completed Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate in January 2016.
Vice President,
Sea, Space & Air Division
Chad Bryant's Bio
Mr. Bryant is Vice President of the Sea, Space and Air Division at ATI where he oversees the management of three Other Transaction (OT) consortia and a DARPA-funded consortium established for satellite standards development. Mr. Bryant previously led the stand-up of the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP) Consortium and the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC), and served as Program Manager for both consortia, as well as Executive Director for the IWRP Consortium. Under Mr. Bryant’s leadership, these OT consortia develop cutting-edge technologies that advance warfighter capabilities and enhance national security.
In a previous role at ATI, Mr. Bryant served as the Technical Director for the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP), a Navy-sponsored collaboration of leading U.S. shipyards working together to reduce the cost of building, operating, and repairing Navy ships. The NSRP program leverages government/industry cooperation to focus national shipbuilding and ship repair R&D funding on improving productivity and quality through advanced technology and processes. In addition to providing direct support to the NSRP Executive Director, Mr. Bryant managed and provided oversight to a program staff to ensure program results were responsive to the policies and direction provided by the NSRP Executive Control Board.
Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Bryant served over 23 years as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy in a variety of leadership and management positions both afloat and ashore. His diverse assignments included multiple surface combatant platforms, numerous overseas deployments in support of national objectives, two university faculty assignments, and command of a U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig.
Mr. Bryant was awarded a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Business Administration from Jacksonville University, and Master of Arts in National Policy and Strategic Studies (with Highest Distinction) from the U.S. Naval War College. He is a member and past president of the Surface Navy Association, Charleston Chapter.
Vice President,
Armament Technologies Division
Paul Dudley's Bio
Mr. Dudley is Vice President of the Armament Technologies Division at ATI. Mr. Dudley leads the coordination and execution of solicitation processes and single-point contracting efforts for five programs, including the largest program managed by ATI, the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC). In addition to DOTC, the Armament Technologies division includes the Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC), the Naval Energetics Systems and Technologies Consortium, the Naval Surface Technology Innovation Consortium, and the Border Security Technology Consortium, which are all modeled in some part after DOTC. In total, there are well over one thousand industry and academic members participating in these consortia. Mr. Dudley previously led the AMTC and currently serves as the Managing Director of the Vertical Lift Consortium.
Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Dudley served in the US Air Force for over 20 years as a C-17 and T-37 pilot and flew some of the earliest mobility combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. While assigned to the Pentagon, he directed the Air Force’s Foreign Military Sales to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including the sale of 8 C-17s to the United Arab Emirates. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Dudley was a Director of International Business Development for Textron and worked on the Commandant’s staff at The Citadel.
Mr. Dudley graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and holds a Master’s Degree in Management from Troy University and a Master’s Degree in Air Mobility from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Vice President,
TechConnect Division
Matt Laudon's Bio
Previously Matt co-founded and led TechConnect and TechConnect Ventures, a 25-year technology prospecting company acquired by ATI in 2021. Matt has founded multiple technology accelerator companies and non-profits ranging across nanotech, cleantech, and defense innovation, managing roles ranging from startup advisor to funding vehicle management vetting thousands of innovations annually. Prior to TechConnect, Matt worked as a research scientist and technology commercialization lead at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Motorola, Los Alamos National Laboratory and various startups over the past 30 years. Matt has a Ph.D and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a B.S. from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, with a strong interest in using open innovation models to address complex challenges ranging across civilian, urban, deep tech, big science and national security domains.
Vice President,
Naval Technologies Division
Marty Ryan's Bio
Mr. Ryan is a Vice President of ATI, Naval Technologies Division Lead, and the Executive Director of ATI’s three Navy ManTech Centers of Excellence. He is responsible for four major Navy programs including; the Naval Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP), the Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC), The Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing Center (NSAM), and the Center for Naval Metalworking (CNM). In his capacity as Executive Director for the three Navy Centers, he is responsible for overall center operations including the Center’s role in the Navy’s needs identification process, the project formulation process, the portfolio of technical projects (currently 50 active projects with 30 more in development), and technology transfer.
Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Ryan served as Science and Technology Advisor to Lieutenant General Wallace Gregson, where he managed the R&D and Technology Transition program for Marine Corps Forces in the Pacific. He identified S&T requirements for all Marine Corps forces assigned to the Central and Pacific Commands, to include the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim. He supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom through the pursuit, evaluation, development, and successful deployment of technologies to counter the evolving asymmetric threats within the region. Prior to his assignment with the operating forces, Mr. Ryan served as Deputy NAVAIR Manufacturing Technology Program Manager and then Program Manager in 1999 and 2001, respectively. During this tenure, he worked closely with the ONR ManTech Office and was an active participant in the development of Navy ManTech guidance and processes. He managed the NAVAIR needs identification process, including the initiation, and subsequent coordination, of several CMTC ManTech projects. Mr. Ryan represented PEO interests to ensure initiation and transition of critical technologies to key air weapons platforms. He coordinated all NAVAIR ManTech efforts within the Centers of Excellence to include project monitoring, industry participation, and transition. Mr. Ryan also worked extensively with the DoD Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel and Chaired the JDMTP Sub-Panel on Advanced Manufacturing Enterprises. The panel coordinated the DoD efforts in Intelligent Manufacturing, Supply Chains, Lean Manufacturing, and Benchmarking with the efforts of the DOE, DOC, NASA, and NSF.
Mr. Ryan was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Florida Tech in 1988.
Vice President,
Manufacturing & Threat Countermeasures Division
Mike Stebbins' Bio
While Mike led the startup of the MCDC and CWMD OT and Consortia efforts, he also played a key role in winning and then executing the UI LABS-led Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII). Other projects include the effort at Ft. Sumter National Monument to incorporate solar panel technology with hydrogen fuel cells to create an energy production and backup power system and an effort to incorporate landfill gas converted to hydrogen as a fuel to power material handling equipment at BMW’s South Carolina production facility. He also led ATI’s BeAccessible/BuyAccessible program supporting government-wide effort to implement Section 508 requirements. Finally Mike was a key participant in ATI’s Vanadium Safety Readiness Program, and both the Copper Touch Surfaces and Copper Air Quality programs– designed to demonstrate and validate that the introduction of copper reduces levels of harmful microbes.
Prior to joining ATI, Mike worked as a team leader, facilitator, and process chemist with Ingevity (formerly MeadWestvaco’s Specialty Chemicals Division) where he identified improvement and troubleshooting projects, assembled and led cross-functional teams, and implemented results of project work for the Charleston, SC, production facility. He also developed a rapid response team for identification of integrity breaches in a critical continuous process avoiding shutdown costs valued over $300,000. Prior to joining MeadWestvaco, Mike led a Metals Analysis Team at General Engineering Laboratories and worked as a Senior Scientist for Alcon Laboratories.
Mike was awarded a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a B.S. in chemistry from the College of Charleston.
Vice President,
Human Resources
Kelly Cusanelli's Bio
Mr. Cusanelli manages the day-to-day activities of the Human Resources Departments. He supervises team members, provides guidance, focuses on development and set priorities of work.
Mr. Cusanelli currently holds several certifications; “Professional in Human Resources” (PHR), Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP), SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP). Prior to moving to Charleston, Mr. Cusanelli was the Law Office Manager for the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office in Reno, Nevada. He managed the DA’s office for over two years. This organization was the largest law office in Northern Nevada that consisted of approximately 180 specialized personnel who are dedicated to public safety, law enforcement, and the prosecution of criminal acts.
Mr. Cusanelli retired from the United States Army in May 2009 after 25 years of service at the rank of Command Sergeant Major/E-9.
Vice President,
Information Technology
Mike Johnson's Bio
Mr. Johnson serves as ATI’s Vice President of Information Technology. In this role, he is responsible for executive oversight of all aspects of Information Technology and the strategic direction of ATI’s Information Systems. Mr. Johnson uses his leadership, programmatic and technical skills to bring together the technical experts, domain experts and support staff to successfully develop and deliver secure technology solutions that address client’s strategic needs.
Mike previously held the position of Information Security Manager at ATI prior to becoming the Director of Information Technology. In this role, he was responsible for the overarching enterprise-wide security strategy and ensured all governmental regulatory security requirements were addressed and followed including NIST and DFARS.
Prior to moving to ATI, Mike was the IT Architect at the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) where he was responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining all SCRA critical infrastructure and was also responsible for reviewing new and existing IT projects, systems designs, and procurement/outsourcing plans for compliance with IT standards, architectural plans, and the organization’s strategic business goals.
Mr. Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina with a major in Management of Information Systems. His technical certifications have included Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), INFOSEC Professional, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Certified Novell Engineer (CNE), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Vice President,
Contracts & Procurement
Katrina Kenny's Bio
Ms. Katrina Kenny is the Vice President of the Contracts and Procurement Department. ATI’s Contracts and Procurement Department is responsible for prime contract and subcontract management in support of ATI’s Divisions as well as procurement in support of both programs and general operations. Ms. Kenny’s responsibilities include negotiating and overseeing ATI prime contracts, which total over 16 billion dollars. Many of these contracts are complex, involving various government agencies, industry partners, and universities.
In addition, she is responsible for organizing, training and, overseeing over fifty contract and procurement personnel in the administration of the company’s over two billion dollar annual spend in subcontract and procurement awards in compliance with federal procurement standards.
Prior to this role, Ms. Kenny served as Sr. Manager – Contracts and Procurement at ATI, where she was contracts division lead for the Armaments Division. In this role she oversaw six Other Transaction Agreements awarded by the Army, Navy, and DHS. She has been involved with the startup of a number of OTA-based consortia, to include consortia formation, negotiating terms and conditions with the government, establishing solicitation processes, providing member training, and working hand in hand with the government throughout the execution of the OTA.
Ms. Kenny received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina. She is a Certified Federal Contracts Manager.
Vice President,
Business Development & Communications
Elaine Sumera's Bio
Prior to joining the ATI team, Ms. Sumera served as Deputy Director of the Applied Biological and Biosecurity Research Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University where she led a diverse team that provided innovative solutions for science and technology programs in biosecurity, enabling the Pennsylvania State University to take a leadership role in securing U.S. national interests and protecting global health. She oversaw the organization’s business strategies and operations, market and program development, as well as research activities supported through grants and contracts from various sponsors.
Ms. Sumera is a dedicated leader with more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. As the Medical Director of the Chemical and Biological Detection and Diagnostic Division, she guided a 30-member research management team, overseeing global strategic research and development portfolio and facilitating scientific innovation from Department of Defense, academia, and industry and directly leading programs in Australia, Peru, Thailand, and Africa. Ms. Sumera also served as subject matter expert on the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements and developed the Joint Science and Technology Office OTA process, facilitating rapid and expedited acquisition strategy.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and is a certified Clinical Laboratory Scientist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology. She earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering System Management from Saint Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas.
Corporate Counsel
Michelle Crawford's Bio
Ms. Crawford is ATI’s Corporate Counsel and serves as legal advisor to ATI Leadership and the ATI Board of Directors. The Legal Department provides guidance designed to minimize legal risk and costs, reduce litigation exposure, protect ATI assets and ensure legal compliance. She provides advice on corporate governance, general corporate and regulatory matters, human resources and employment, and coordinates compliance with laws and regulations applicable to ATI’s business operations. She also serves as the lead on any disputes, claims and litigation and is ATI’s initial point of contact for outside legal counsel. Ms. Crawford establishes the annual legal budget, coordinates responses to non-standard Government investigations and audits and is responsible for creating, updating, and/or maintaining a variety of internal records related to trademarks and other intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and other documentation related to or created by the Legal Department. She also conducts a variety of legal reviews and assists in negotiations related to real property/leases, branding and other public facing material, contracts and procurement
Ms. Crawford was previously an Administrative Law Judge for the Federal Government. She also served as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for an international engineering, construction and consulting management company with similar duties and responsibilities as those she now performs for ATI. In addition, she was the founder and managing partner for Crawford-Hill Law, a law firm focused on government contracts disputes, military criminal and administrative matters and other federal claims. She also served as the Charleston District Counsel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including a tour in Afghanistan.
Ms. Crawford retired from the U.S. Army Reserves (USAR) in May 2020 after 30 years of commissioned service, having served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps for a combined 14 years on active duty and 16 years in the USAR. She obtained her commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the ROTC program at The University of Miami where she also earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice. The Army granted her an educational delay which she utilized to obtain her Juris Doctorate from The University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Ms. Crawford is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS; obtained an L.L.M. in Military Law (with a concentration in Criminal Law) from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA; and earned a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA.
Director of Strategic Projects
Tom Bailey's Bio
Mr. Bailey, the Director of Strategic Projects, serves ATI in the areas of strategic growth, legislative affairs, internal process improvements, cross-team functionality and professional development.
Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Bailey served over 30 years in the U.S. Navy. A nuclear-trained submarine officer, he was fortunate to serve on 4 different fast attack submarines out of Pearl Harbor Hi, including command of USS CHARLOTTE (SSN 766). Following command, he served as the NIMITZ Strike Group’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat and Information (C5I) as well as the Strike Group’s Submarine Operations Advisor. Shore tours included Submarine Operations Officer in Naples, Italy, Naval Academy Summer Training Officer and Professional Development Instructor in Annapolis, MD, Congressional Liaison in Washington, DC, and Anti-Submarine Warfare Syndicate Head at the Tactical Training Group, Pacific in San Diego. During his time in Washington, DC, Mr. Bailey served as a Congressional Liaison between the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and the Department of the Navy. His areas of responsibility included Research and Development (ONR), Intelligence programs, Weapons Procurement (WPN), Other Procurement (OPN), and all issues related to submarines and nuclear power. He also served 15 months as a Navy Fellow on the personal staff of Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), assisting the Senator on all military policy and appropriations issues.
His final tours of duty were in Charleston, SC. First, for over 4 ½ years as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, where he was responsible for the initial nuclear power training for every officer and enlisted Sailor in the nuclear Navy, and then dual billeted as the Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activities, Charleston and as the Deputy Commander of Joint Base Charleston.
Following retirement from the Navy, Mr. Bailey pursued a life-long dream of being a small business owner. After becoming a Top 10 franchisee, he sold his business and joined ATI.
Mr. Bailey is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he was a History Major, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is also a co-owner of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers!
Director of Learning & Professional Development
Nadia Garcia Bornfleth's Bio
Ms. Garcia Bornfleth is the Director of Learning & Professional Development at ATI. In her role, she oversees ATI’s leadership and professional development, knowledge management, learning technology and systems, and new employee onboarding. She is responsible for providing learning solutions that enable organizational goals and drive workplace performance. Ms. Garcia Bornfleth plays a key role in ensuring ATI has a robust talent pipeline.
In addition, she serves as the mentor for ATI’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Advancement (IDEA) Council. The Council’s mission is to ensure each person on the ATI Team feels a sense of belonging and has the ability to influence change.
Previously, Ms. Garcia Bornfleth was the Sr. Director of Learning & Development for Creative Lodging Solutions (CLS), where she was responsible for designing and implementing learning strategies for new hire onboarding, operations and financial initiatives, leadership development, and performance management. There, Ms. Garcia Bornfleth spearheaded the development, execution, and evaluation of a learning academy, which offered classes on leadership, human resources, sales, operations, soft skills and customer service to 240 employees. Ms. Garcia Bornfleth and her team at CLS were awarded the bronze Learning/Training Team of the Year Stevie Award, as well as the silver Overall Training Program Travel Weekly Magellan Award. Ms. Garcia Bornfleth was also employed at Thomas & King (T&K), as the Assistant Director of Training, where she led a team of 700+ trainers who were responsible for the training and development of 6,500 Applebee’s Hourly Associates, and was responsible for Thomas & King Leadership University. Before T&K, she was the Director of Training for Cold Stone Creamery, Inc., where she was responsible for the strategic leadership of three training functions: Cold Stone University, Field Training, and Instructional Design.
Ms. Garcia Bornfleth has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona in Business Management and Marketing. She is a Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) and is also a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow.
Corporate Mentor Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Advancement Council
Tim Macon's Bio
Tim Macon is a Program Manager in the Naval Technologies Division at ATI, supporting the execution and growth of the unit’s applied research and development programs. In this role, he uses his extensive background in project management and program development along with his ability to apply knowledge, skills and techniques to project activities. In addition to his program duties, Mr. Macon is the Corporate Mentor for ATI’s Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Advancement Council.
Mr. Macon currently serves as the Program Manager for the Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC) program, which is a Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division consortium, managed by ATI that focuses on innovative sustainment solutions to effectively address current and future security threats in maritime environments.
Prior to this assignment Mr. Macon served as a project lead for the Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing (NSAM) program and the Center for Naval Metal Working (CNM). NSAM and CNM are Navy ManTech Centers of Excellence, chartered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop advanced manufacturing, metalworking and related technologies and deploy them in U.S. shipyards and other industrial facilities. Mr. Macon also served as program manager for DoD-sponsored field studies program for over 4 years where he utilized program management expertise to mesh disparate research institutions into a unified Study Site for USAMRMC sponsored national program.
Mr. Macon served for 3 years as the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Program’s Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise (AME) Subpanel Executive Secretariat. Developed Secretariat program and staffing requirements to support the AME Subpanel, chartered to implement strategic direction for Joint Defense ManTech efforts. Led DoD service-level manufacturing science and technology reviews, twice annually, coordinating efforts for the Navy, Army, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and other relevant government organizations.
Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Macon served for more than 25 years in the U.S. Navy, including two tours of duty in Charleston. He served as the Senior Medical Department Representative on three Navy warships, and his final assignment was the Clinical Coordinator for the Directorate of Health Services at the Naval Health Clinic Charleston.
Mr. Macon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from TUI University in Cypress, CA. He is a graduate of the Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative.
ATI Board of Directors
Board Chair
RADM Charles B. Young USN (Ret)'s Bio
Rear Admiral Young is Director of the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, Director of the Global Water Center, Director of Water Mission, and Vice Chairman of the Board for Advanced Technology International. He previously served as General Chair of the Submarine Technology Symposium; member South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Strategic Advisory Group; member Naval Research Advisory Committee; member of the Stevens Institute of Technology School of Engineering and Science External Advisory Board; President of SSP HERO, a nonprofit organization that supports the Navy’s SSP organization through programs that educate people about the contributions the FBM program has made to the security of the United States; Director, Naval Submarine League; member JRC Integrated Systems, Inc.’s Board of Advisors; Director, Charleston Council Navy League of United States. He also serves as a consultant in the defense industry.
Admiral Young was the Vice President for Strategic Business Planning, Oceaneering Advanced Technologies from October 2006 until December 2012. Oceaneering International, Inc is a global oilfield provider of engineered services and products. A native of South Carolina, Admiral Young graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1970 with a BS (Mechanical Engineering) degree. After receiving a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Ocean Engineering) at the University of Delaware in May 1971, he completed the Navy’s nuclear power training program. While serving in the U.S. Navy his sea duty assignment included USS ULYSSES S. GRANT(SSBN 631B); USS PLUNGER (SSN 595); USS SAND LANCE (SSN 660); USS SAN JUAN (SSN 751) and USS HOLLAND (AS 32). Shore duty assignments included instructor duty at Nuclear Power School, Bainbridge, Maryland; Squadron Material Officer on the staff of Commander Submarine Squadron Sixteen in Kings Bay, Ga.; Director of Tactical Training at the Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Training Center in Charleston, S.C.; Deputy Commander for Readiness and Training for Submarine Squadron TWO and Undersea Warfare Assistant Office Director for Advanced Submarine Technology in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Additionally he served as Director, Resources and Evaluation on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Program Manager for the Navy’s Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Program Office; Deputy Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command for Undersea Technology; Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center; Vice Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Program Executive Officer for Undersea Warfare. Rear Admiral Young was the 11th Director of Strategic Systems Programs where he was responsible for all aspects of the research, development, production, logistics, storage, repair, and operational support of the Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile Weapon Systems. Since retirement from the Navy, Admiral Young has served on several panels and boards. These include: Submarine Superiority Technical Advisory Group (SSTAG); Defense Science Board Task Forces; advisor to the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee (TRAC) Nuclear Deterrent Transformation (NDT) Panel; Board of Advisors for Florida Atlantic University’s Institute for Ocean and Systems Engineering; Board Advisors for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’ Global Engagement Department; Board of Advisors for the NDIA Undersea Warfare Division; and he has lead or participated in several teams reviewing specific issues in defense programs.
Board Vice Chair
Mr. Aaron Hughes' Bio
Aaron Hughes is Group Vice President and CISO for Albertsons Companies. In this role he is responsible for enabling the business and securing the infrastructure, digital assets, and payments for a network of over 2200 supermarkets operating under 20 brands across the United States.
Previously he was Vice President for Information Security and Deputy CISO at Capital One where he led the team providing security services across all of the Capital One lines of business to include Card, Financial Services, Commercial and Retail Banking as well Enterprise IT, Digital Products, and Data Initiatives.
He is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. In this position, Mr. Hughes was responsible for the development and implementation of cyber policies, strategies, plans, and operational oversight for all Department of Defense efforts in cyberspace.
Prior to his appointment with the DoD, he was a Vice President with the strategic investment firm In-Q-Tel. During his seven years with the firm, he held a variety of roles culminating with leadership of all Intelligence Community engagement, outreach, and strategic relationships.
In addition to his full-time civilian employment, Mr. Hughes is a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve currently serving as a Senior Advisor to the Commander at USCYBERCOM.
Mr. Hughes received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, MS in Telecommunication and Computers from George Washington University, and MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Board Member
Mr. Chris Van Metre's Bio
Chris Van Metre was born in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a career naval officer. He moved frequently with his family many times during his childhood starting school in Charleston, SC, and ultimately graduating from high school in Virginia Beach, VA. After high school, Chris attended the University of Notre Dame on a Naval ROTC scholarship and majored in Aerospace Engineering. After graduation, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy and immediately began nuclear power and submarine initial training. After completion of this training, Chris reported to his first submarine duty assignment in Charleston, SC. It was during this assignment that he married the former Rose McEwan of Charleston, SC. He completed a 20-year Navy career that included four submarine assignments, including command of a fast attack submarine, as well as a variety of shore assignments focused on training and education. After retirement, Chris returned to the Lowcountry and joined the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), a small Research and Development management services company and subsidiary of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), in North Charleston, SC. Originally hired by ATI as a project manager in May 2005, Chris soon transitioned into a Business Development role, responsible for growing ATI’s market reach and business portfolio.
In April 2012, he became the third President and CEO of the renamed Advanced Technology International (ATI). In this role, he oversees the strategic direction of ATI, which has grown to a $1.5 Billion collaboration management services company. ATI’s mission is to lessen the burden of government by supporting federal government agencies, industry, and universities in the collaborative execution of our nation’s most innovative research initiatives. ATI-leads R&D collaborations that cover a broad array of technology domains including armaments, biotechnology, electromagnetic spectrum, space technologies, advanced materials, shipbuilding, and ship repair. Building multi-disciplinary teams from the private sector (Fortune 500 companies to small businesses), federal agencies and universities to deliver prototype technologies is a prominent feature of these programs.
Chris’ experience includes strategic planning, technology development road-mapping and multi-organizational and multi-disciplinary consortia formation. His technical and engineering expertise has been invaluable in creating teams to focus R&D efforts in many areas. He has been the catalyst behind new alliances formed among stakeholder groups from industry, academia and the federal government to define and prioritize technology requirements and potential solutions, where robust collaboration among diverse groups was critical to a successful outcome. During his tenure at ATI, Chris has overseen two acquisitions and, in 2017, the sale of ATI from SCRA to Analytic Services (ANSER) in Falls Church, VA. As President and CEO, Chris has led the growth of ATI from annual revenues of $150 Million to $1.5 Billion with ATI repeatedly being recognized as a South Carolina Best Places to Work.
Chris is very active in the local community, serving on the Lowcountry Heart Walk Executive Leadership team, as Chair of the Citadel’s Engineering Leadership and Program Management Advisory Board, as the Regional Director of Officials for SC High School League Swimming and as a mentor for several local young professionals. Chris and Rose are the incredibly proud parents of three children: Brian, a Navy Lieutenant teaching NROTC at Notre Dame, Ashleigh, a Navy Lieutenant physician in her first year of residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and Regan, a Navy Ensign in first year of Medical School at USC-Greenville. They are also the parents of four dogs – two English Bulldogs, a golden retriever and a Great Dane mix.