RONALD A. MASON

Ronald A. Mason, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Special Assistant to the Program Executive Officer for C3I and Networks, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. In this position, Mr. Mason assists the PEO with acquisition execution on a $10.9 billion portfolio developing, deploying and sustaining Air Force, joint and coalition cyberspace, networks, cryptologic and data link systems to enable decisive combat operations.

Mr. Mason entered federal service in 1981 as a project engineer for the Imagery Interpretation Program at Hanscom AFB, Mass. Throughout his career, he has held key management positions in signals intelligence, aerospace management, tactical and satellite communications, and battle management command and control. In 2000, Mr. Mason served in the Pentagon as the Chief of Air Force Acquisition Reform, where he was responsible for the development and dissemination of acquisition processes and reform initiatives. Additionally, he was the Director of the 850th Electronic Systems Group at Peterson AFB, Colo. There he was responsible for providing missile warning and defense systems; command and control system support to global users; the Global Transportation Network; and ground-based sensor support for the tactical warning system. He was also responsible for upgrading communication and conferencing capabilities on the E-4 National Airborne Operations Center airframe.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Mason was the Program Executive Officer for Battle Management, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. He was responsible for acquisition execution of a $9.5 billion portfolio of program focused on rapidly developing and fielding battle management command, control and communications systems.

EDUCATION
1980 Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, Western New England College, Springfield, Mass.
1984 Master of Science degree in engineering management, Western New England College, Springfield, Mass.
1989 Program Manager's Course, Defense Systems Management College, Fort Belvoir, Va.
1993 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1995 Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
1997 Program for Senior Executive Fellows, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
1999 Roots of Strategy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2000 International Issues in Defense, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2004 Executive Development Seminar: Leading Change, Office of Personnel Management, Eastern Management Development Center, Shepherdstown, W.Va.
2006 Executive Program Managers Course, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2008 Systems Acquisition Management Course for Flag Officers, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.
2008 Executive Course on National and International Security, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2009 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1980 - June 1981, Project Engineer, Air Force Standard Navigation Program, Litton Guidance and Control Systems Division, Calif.
2. June 1981 - June 1982, Project Engineer, Imagery Interpretation Program, Headquarters Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
3. June 1982 - July 1983, Project Engineer, Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Remote Terminal Program, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
4. July 1983 - August 1984, Program Manager, Sentinel Aspen II Program, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
5. August 1984 - December 1984, Program Manager, Strategic Defense Initiative Radar Study, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
6. December 1984 - April 1987, Program Manager, Sentinel Bright I Program, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
7. April 1987 - March 1993, Deputy Director, later, Director, Signals Intelligence and Training Systems Directorate, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
8. March 1993 - May 1997, Deputy System Program Director, Communications and Airspace Management Systems, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass. (June 1994 - March 1995 and October 1995 - January 1996, acting System Program Director, Communications and Airspace Management Systems)
9. May 1997 - August 2000, Deputy System Program Director, Joint Surveillance Target Attach Radar System Program Office, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
10. August 2000 - July 2001, Chief, Acquisition Reform, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
11. August 2001 - September 2003, Program Director, Military Satellite Communications Terminal Programs Office, Headquarters ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
12. October 2003 - August 2004, Deputy Program Director, later, acting Program Director, Networks and Information Integration Program Office, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
13. August 2004 - May 2006, Executive Director, Combatant Commanders' Command and Control Systems Group, ESC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. May 2006 - September 2008, Director, 850th Electronic Systems Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
15. September 2008 - January 2010, Director, 653rd Electronic Systems Wing, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
16. January 2010 - September 2011, Program Executive Officer for Cyber and Netcentric Programs, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
17. September 2011 - July 2012, Program Executive Officer for Battle Management, ESC, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
18. July 2012 - present, Special Assistant to the Program Executive Officer for C3I and Networks, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Organizational Excellence Award
Notable Achievement Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Lexington-Concord Chapter
Air Force Association, Paul Revere Chapter
Association of Old Crows, Patriots' Roost Chapter

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Acquisition Program Management, Level III, Acquisition Professional Development Program
Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering, Level III, APDP

(Current as of January 2013)