William Norris is an accomplished business and technology innovator with extensive experience in business development, program management, and product development. He has led programs at John Deere and served as a senior consultant. Norris has expertise in robotics, control systems, marketing, and engineering. He holds an MBA from Duke University and a PhD in engineering from the University of Illinois.

1. WILLIAM ROBERT NORRIS
Rock Hill, SC ▪ 704.607.2742 ▪ bobnorris@rsmartllc.com
www.linkedin.com/in/bobnorrisphdmba
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | HIGH-TECH MARKETING | PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Ability to accurately assess technology risks and market opportunities while developing and executing
high-tech, business, and marketing strategies.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An accomplished innovator and astute business professional with a distinctive career in business and technology
innovation, enterprise-level leadership, and program management, including developing, managing, and
delivering high risk, technically complex product offerings from concept to delivery. Crafted a progressive career
within the technology sector including high visibility roles in program, product, and business management. An
experienced manager with the ability to motivate and direct staff and build a solid team environment with
superior work ethic and a commitment to excellence.
Strengths: Organizational Leadership | High-Tech Program Management | Technology Development | Product
Development | Financial Analysis | Marketing | Systems Engineering | TS Security Clearance
ENDORSEMENTS
“Bob is well rounded in both technical and business disciplines and is able to switch hats quickly.”
W. Arnold | CEO, T8DESIGN
“As a manager of others, Bob did exceedingly well and utilized his team to accomplish real project results. Dr.
Norris is an outstanding professional and a widely-recognized asset to our company.”
C. De Roo | Program Manager, John Deere
KEY EXECUTIVE QUALIFICATIONS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: High-tech business development and marketing expertise including international
business development.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Expertise developing, directing, and delivering high-risk, highly complex, technical
product offerings from conception through customer delivery including contracting, technical and product
development, manufacturing, and service and support.
BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY: Directed and executed high-tech marketing and business strategies to
introduce technology products to diverse market segments.
COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION: Able to establish key senior executive relationships and networks across
multiple markets. Capable of managing complex intra-company relationships between culturally diverse
organizations including managing teams based internationally.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Led 45 staff in an inter-disciplinary, $20M joint venture program with Deere and
iRobot.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ROBUST SMART CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LLC, Rock Hill, SC (2009-Present)
Senior Consultant
Currently serving as Senior Consultant for Robust Smart Control Solutions (R-Smart) LLC, a high-tech engineering
and business consulting firm specializing in business development and marketing in the off-road equipment,
unmanned systems, military, and security industries. Provide expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, basic and
advanced control systems, systems engineering, human interfaces, virtual reality, spiral development V&V, and
large scale program management. Key clients: Northrop Grumman, Deere and Company, Antenna Products,
Coroware, The Electronics On Ramp, Beam Innovation and TMA.

2. William Robert Norris
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Negotiated a phased entry and developed a strategic plan that enabled a small high-
tech company to gain product entry into a Fortune 100 company.
HIGH-TECH MARKETING: In three weeks, created security industry presence for a Northrop Grumman
subsidiary including relationships with 13 of the largest security firms and exposure to international security
opportunities.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Created a competitive sourcing decision that will save over $3M dollars for a client’s
product development program by providing program management and decision analysis expertise.
JOHN DEERE COMPANY, Moline, IL (2001-2009)
Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division
Business Manager (2008-2009) | Program & Product Manager (2006-2008)
Program Engineer (2004-2006)
Transitioned into John Deere’s Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division as a Program Engineer, serving as
the technical lead and systems engineer on several high-level robotic programs. Promoted to Program/Product
Manager, overseeing the business case development for a consumer robotic application including market
research, financial analysis, competitive intelligence, technology development, and business strategy. Tapped to
serve as Business Manager for the R-Gator, a large-scale manufactured military robotic ground vehicle. Oversaw
and participated in all operations, finance, marketing, quality, sales, engineering, customer service, and supply
management activities. Directed multiple large-scale programs consisting of numerous projects.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: Directed the creation of the R-Gator, the first large-scale, manufactured robotic
ground vehicle, from concept to customer delivery, enabling sales of six systems and $1.25M in profit.
STRATEGIC MARKETING: Expedited introduction of the R-Gator to military, homeland security, private security,
and emergency responder market segments by executing marketing and business strategies.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Managed the design process for the initial version of the R-Gator, accelerating
production of this beta model and rolling it out to customers in one year.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Managed two major programs including the initial stages of the Tango an innovative,
robotic mower designed for the European market.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: Developed industry leading patent strategies by creating and managing
intellectual property.
Intelligent Vehicle Systems Group
Senior/Staff Engineer (2001-2004)
Accepted challenging opportunity to join John Deere’s Intelligent Vehicle Systems Division as a Senior/Staff
Engineer. Coordinated and initiated advanced technology efforts within the Deere enterprise while performing
advanced research and coordinating external projects with universities, government agencies, and research
institutes. Developed system architecture for robotic vehicles.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: Built John Deere’s robotics foundation and developed the architecture strategy,
earning six patents.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Launched and directed three enterprise-level communities of practice with
more than 150 members each in control systems, system engineering, and robotics.
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES: Created new enterprise-wide benchmarks by co-developing short-term and 20-year
technology strategies in robotics/automation, control systems, and system engineering.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: Created the concept for the R-gator and several other foundational robotic programs,
overseeing the initial technology development and production preparation.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR SUPERCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS (NCSA), Champaign, IL (1996-2001)
Research Assistant
Developed revolutionary virtual simulation techniques in adaptive control system design involving virtual
environments, adaptive electro-hydraulic control, artificial intelligence techniques, and their use in manufacturing
and design. Collaborated with Caterpillar and the University of Illinois on simulation techniques in adaptive
control system design involving integration of vehicular dynamics in a virtual environment.

3. William Robert Norris
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TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: Developed an adaptive interface between the human operator and vehicle
controls and filed for six patents.
U.S. ARMY CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH LAB, Champaign, IL (1995-2001)
Project Manager and Researcher
Coordinated and project managed technology evaluation and installation projects at remote sites with
manufacturers, contractors, government personnel, and consultants.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: Developed advanced HVAC controls and commissioning tool that significantly
reduces energy costs while ensuring adequate indoor air quality.
BUSINESS CONSULTING
COROWARE, INC., Kirkland, WA (2012-Present)
Board of Advisors
Currently providing high-tech, business management, and technology innovation advice as a member of the Board
of Advisors for Coroware, a provider of communications and automation products and services that optimize the
technology investments of enterprise customers.
MILITARY SERVICE
United States Army, Fort Bragg, NC and Ansbach, West Germany
Manager (Staff Sergeant) - 82nd Airborne
Managed paratrooper unit on no-notice, combat deployment status.
Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran
Honors
Meritorious Service Medal (1) | Army Commendation Medals (2)
Good Conduct Medals (2) | Army Achievement Medals (3)
Parachutist Badge | Jungle Expert
AWARDS – AFFILIATIONS – PATENTS
Awards
John Deere Innovation Award
Forever Duke Distinguished Alumni Award
Duke University: Fuqua School of Business Merit Scholarship
2001 Research Assistant of the Year Award (Corps of Engineers)
William A. Chittenden Award: Best Master's Thesis of 1998 in General Engineering
Patents
Holder of eleven U.S. patents | Visit LinkedIn for more information
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS
Duke University | Durham, NC
MBA - The Fuqua School of Business
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL
PhD – Engineering - Control Systems, Mechatronics, AI, Robotics
B.S. Degree & M.S. Degree - Systems Engineering - Control Systems, Mechatronics, AI, Robotics