1. Walter “Howard” Ward, Jr.
Auburn, Alabama 36862
 walter.h.ward.jr@gmail.com  334.953.7879 (o) – 910.585.0483 (c) – 334.887.6957 (h)
March 11, 2016
If your organization is looking for a proven leader that can achieve success today while building
market dominance for the future, we should explore my joining your team as your newest
operations executive. Simply put, I have a documented track record of propelling organizations to
success even they didn‘t think possible.
Right now you’re probably expecting sentences that highlight productivity, sustained growth,
and growing market share. I’ve met and exceeded all those expectations for more than a decade.
But numbers alone can’t reflect how I transform markets into springboards for even greater
success.
I lead through commanding innovation. My competitors strive tirelessly to be excellent today.
My organizations build on that tough standard to be exceptional tomorrow.
It’s not magic. I can imagine how to leverage sunk costs into products my customers wish
they’d thought of first. Because our clients are so demanding we’ve had to provide enhanced
excellence quickly and right the first time.
Harnessing innovation to deliver a better product starts on the next pages. My résumé is
entirely driven by return on your organization’s investment. Right at the top of page one you’ll
see four profit-building capabilities I’ll demonstrate from day one. They’re illustrated by 11
examples of entirely new markets created, millions of dollars saved, profitable coalitions built,
and productivity multiplied. Each one is a powerful example of informed innovation in action.
But no résumé, no matter how closely tailored to your organization’s needs, can replace people
speaking with people. If my track record and leadership appeal to you I’d like to hear about your
unique operational challenges in your own words. May I get on your schedule briefly for that
purpose soon?
Sincerely,
Howard Ward, Jr.
Encl.: Résumé

2. Howard Ward Operations Executive 910.585.0483 (c)
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Walter “Howard” Ward, Jr.
Auburn, Alabama 36862
 walter.h.ward.jr@gmail.com  334.953.7879 (o) – 910.585.0483 (c) – 334.887.6957 (h)
More than ten straight years creating markets competitors wish they
had; delivering value customers never knew existed
CAPABILITIES I OFFER YOUR ORGANIZATION AS YOUR NEWEST OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE
 Leverage today’s excellence into market domination tomorrow
 Get complete buy-in to innovation that creates thriving new markets better and faster
than the competition
 Build coalitions between internal and external customers that drive growth and
market share up
 Optimize ROI on every investment from people to technology to dollars
WORK HISTORY WITH CONTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND CUSTOMERS
More than ten years in increasingly responsible positions as a senior commissioned Air
Force officer including these most recent assignments:
 Sought out by a Fortune 500 CEO equivalent to be Director (AVP), LeMay
Wargaming Center then promoted to Senior Director, (EVP) Spaatz Center for
Transformation, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Aug 13 – Present
Two executives report to me directly. Build and defend a $500K budget.
DOMINATING NEW MARKETS IN 18 MONTHS: Found inventive ways to capture
customers who had never even heard of us before. Went from just war gaming to
provide solutions from financing to acquisition to security to talent management.
Cut investment cost more than 90%.
DELIVERING VALUE OTHERS MISS: Translated corporate vision into better solutions no
one had thought of. Reinvented a costly legacy simulation tool to fill more needs for
more customers—fast. Got buy-in across the board because we cut risk and boosted
productivity to best levels yet.
GIVING LEADERS NEW TOOLS THEY CAN USE INTUITIVELY: Used a CEO’s specific
request to design, test, and deliver a new system that addresses every practical
concern quickly at no extra cost. CEO said: “For the first time, I have evidence to
support my judgement.”

3. Howard Ward Operations Executive 910.585.0483 (c)
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BUILDING NEW COALITIONS: Led groups of “siloed” interests to see beyond today’s
horizons. From millennials to academics, energized communities to drive synergistic
innovation as never before. Three hundred experts and key players shared knowledge
guiding the future—with no need expensive new technology.
 Chosen specifically by CEO equivalent to be Commander (CEO), 317th Airlift Group,
Dyess Air Force Base, Texas Dec 11 – Aug 13
Supervised five executives directly. Planned and administered our $85M budget.
PROVIDING NEW PATHS TO GREAT SUCCESS: Led us to excellence even our own people
didn’t think possible. Tapped into their expertise and pride to take on very tough
challenges. Productivity up 200%—the best in decades. On their own, people made T-
shirts featuring our brand. Great morale!
REDEFINING QUALITY BETTER THAN EVER: Rose above a cumbersome quality assurance
system burdened with too much duplication. My new, streamlined method went
beyond measuring today’s performance to delivering our brand’s full potential.
Results? Best QA scores in 22 years—and done with 34 fewer FTEs.
Selected by name to be Chief of War Planning and Policy Division (EVP), promoted
to Air Force Secretary of Joint and National Security Council Matters (EVP), The
Pentagon, Washington, DC Jun 09 – Dec 11
Served as direct reporting official for up to five senior executives. Built and
defended budgets up to $33.5M.
OPTIMIZING RESOURCES: Saved more than $32M by transforming “we’ve always done
it that way” into new concepts that optimize scarce resources. Led stakeholders to
champion ideas so powerfully, they took ownership all the way to the top. Equipped
most senior leadership to overcome resistance from Congress.
 Selected from the top 15% of senior officers to be a Student, Air War College,
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Jul 08 – Jun 09
Attended under a full scholarship.
 Operations Officer (VP), then promoted by a senior board to serve as Commander
(CEO), 41st and 2nd Airlift Squadrons, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina Sep 05 – Jun
08
Supervised up to 10 executives and administered a $15.5M budget.
REIGNITING CULTURE AND SAVING MILLIONS: My innovative approach replaced uncertainty
and stress with confidence, stability, better performance and greater ROI across the
board. Got customers’ buy in fast. Removed workforce’s concerns about their jobs. Cut
millions in cost. Helped set the corporate standard.
BUILDING LASTING PARTNERSHIPS; EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: Went beyond the
immediate need. Reached out to customer directly—something few had done before.

4. Howard Ward Operations Executive 910.585.0483 (c)
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Helped them uncover tomorrow’s as well as today’s challenges. Delivered better
capability others said couldn’t be done better, faster, cheaper. Thought to finish in
just 90 days.
SETTING THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS Led the shift to meet our customers’ most difficult
goals. Replaced outdated metrics and expensive, inefficient tools with approaches that
served them very much better.
GUIDING A TAKEOVER WELL: Maintained top performance when Congress mandated
integrating two very different cultures. Meshed the strengths of each into one
smoothly running operation even with a 172 FTE cut. Personally made sure 90% of
downsized employees got their first choice of a new job.
 Previous experience as an Operations Officer, Division Chief, and Executive
Officer at locations in Illinois
EDUCATION AND RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Masters in Strategic Studies, Air War College, selected from top 5% of senior officers
 Joint Forces Staff College; competitively boarded as a Joint Service Officer
 Army Command and General Staff College, selectively chosen from the top 15% for
joint service education opportunity
 MS, Operations Management, University of Arkansas
 BS, North Carolina State University
 Combatting terrorism, discrimination, violence, substance abuse, sexual
harassment and suicide in the workplace--trained annually for more than 10 years
 Financial Management & Community Relations, Air Force Group Commanders’
Course ‘11
 Dispute Resolution, Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence ‘09
IT LITERACY
 Expert with PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and advanced internet search protocols
 Comfortable with Access, OneNote, Quicken, proprietary scheduling, maintenance,
and supply chain software

5. Howard Ward Operations Executive 910.585.0483 (c)
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Walter “Howard” Ward, Jr.
Auburn, Alabama 36862
 walter.h.ward.jr@gmail.com  334.953.7879 (o) – 910.585.0483 (c) – 334.887.6957 (h)
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Darren W. McDew
General, United States Air Force
Commander, United States Transportation Command
508 Scott Drive, Suite 315
Scott AFB, IL 62225-5357
darren.w.mcdew@mail.mil
618.229.3205
As my supervisor General McDew has seen my work at first hand.
We’ve known each other for 11 years.
Roger A. Brady
General, United States Air Force (retired)
Former Commander, United States Air Forces Europe
2723 Cooleemee Drive
Raleigh NC 27608
rogerabrady@gmail.com
919.615.2459 (h) – 252.561.5567 (c)
I worked for General Brady directly. He’s known me for 14 years.
Glen D. Vanherck
Major General selectee, United States Air Force
Air Force Global Strike Command Director of Operations
245 Davis Avenue East, Suite 207
Barksdale AFB, LA 71110-2279
glen.vanherck@us.af.mil
318.456.0940
General Vanherck and I worked closely together for four years.
Dr. Stefan Eisen, Jr.
Director, Air Force Negotiation Center
600 Chennault Circle, Building 1405, Suite 171A
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6010
334.953.6095
stefan.eisen@us.af.mil
Dr. Eisen and I are colleagues who have known each other for eight years.