Sam Gardner is an MBA graduate from Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business with a concentration in finance and investments. He has over 20 years of experience in the engineering field, including serving as an engineering officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and Georgia Army National Guard. Currently, he commands over 90 personnel as the 878th Engineering Headquarters Company Commander. His experience also includes independent aerospace consulting and project management roles for the military and commercial aerospace companies like FedEx and Delta Airlines.

1. SAM GARDNER, MBA
Atlanta, GA • 404.543.7657 • Sam.Gardner@comcast.net
EDUCATION
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (GT), Scheller College of Business Atlanta, GA
Master of Business Administration December 2015
● Concentration: Finance and Investments; Campus Winner ACG’s M&A/Investment Banking case study competition
● Relevant class project - Valuation of a consumer electronics start-up, Investment portfolio management & LBO analysis
● Honors & Clubs - Georgia HERO Scholarship, Georgia Tech Finance Club & Investment Club
● Six Sigma Black Belt, Negotiations & Conflict
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Raleigh, NC
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace focus May 1996
● Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps: Squadron Commander
EXPERIENCE
UNITED STATES MILITARY Atlanta, GA
Engineering Officer - United States Air Force Reserves & Current Georgia Army National Guard 2007 - Present
● Director of Engineering for Georgia National Guard. Staff of 12 direct reporting engineers, with projects combined worth
$50M+ (2012-2013) to include construction, force protection, and facilities management. Resulting in state of the art military
facilities for improved readiness, military operations and training. Performed project management, budgeting, feasibility studies,
construction management, and real property accounting through out the state of Georgia.
• Current Commander 878th Engineering Headquarters Company Commander, commanding over 90+ persons.
● Combat Tours: Operations Engineer in Iraq (2008-2009 USAF Reserves) and Afghanistan (2013-2014 Army N.G.)
● Afghanistan: Conducted Engineering Combat Operations for 100+ square mile area for the Kabul Base Cluster
● Iraq: Managed Engineering Basing Operations for the Division level (two star general level) with 4 combat brigades across 8
provinces in southern Iraq, involving over 40 individual forward operating bases/locations. Closed 17 U.S. Army bases, and
acquired an additional eight (8) as the British withdrawal of military forces from Iraq in summer of 2009
● Prior to deployment to Iraq assisted U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command with planning and requesting funds of $125M+
from Congress to convert a traditional Air Force Base to meet the growing needs for and specific requirements of Special Ops.
INDEPENDENT AEROSPACE CONSULTANT Nation Wide, US 2001-2012
● Analyzed viability of $7.4B (FY12) capital investment for upgrades to the C-5M transport aircraft for USAF and OEM.
● Lead team at MCAS Cherry Point to increased cost avoidance by $75M by evaluating and recommending changes using existing
technologies from other platforms for US Marine Corps vertical “jump jet”(AV-8B) for improved “smart” capabilities at minimal
cost, due to the upcoming retirement of the aircraft.
● Assisted FedEx with implementation of improved aircraft defense capabilities by performing research of engineering data
(drawings, reports, manuals) defining aircraft structure or systems to determine the most efficient method of modification.
● Completed In-Flight Entertainment Program and conversion of some B767 & all B777 aircraft for Delta Airlines to include
domestic to international certification on B767 in order to increase revenue. Interfaced with the Substantiation Group and FAA
representatives to ensure that all customers requirements were met as well as established FAA regulatory for on time delivery.
● Executive OEM Liaison and Contracting Support: Established more effective communications with customer operations
executives to manage supply chain and sources of supply, thus reducing down time and costs by 15%.
● Controlled all aspects of military programs including sales, cost, schedule & performance as described in Statements of Work and
contract requirements. Led engineers, technicians, outsourcing and business partner relations to meet customer expectations as
well as increase business development opportunities with existing and new customers for small veteran owned business.
Aerospace Engineer – U.S. Air Force (Active Duty) 1996 - 2000
● Led field operations to restore structural flight integrity of aircraft under combat conditions. Managed assets valued over $150M
● Optimized Weapon Delivery Systems to include “smart” laser and GPS guided munitions of fighter and bomber aircraft Increased
reliability of delivering munitions by 10%. Over $1B in assets
● Using Commercial Off The Shelf items with dual usage, enacted Just-in-Time principles to reduced costs of acquisition and
inventory by as much as 80% during acquisition of complex military grade equipment.
SKILLS/INTERESTS
Skills: Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuation, Wealth Management, Consulting, Six Sigma Black Belt, Cost/Benefit Analysis,
Statistical Analysis tools: Solver, @Risk, and Mini-Tab 17, and Active Secret Security Clearance
Leadership: Former Construction Project Officer in Charge (OIC) 50+ person team, Former Aircraft Battle Damage Repair
Engineer & OIC, 20+ person teams on F-15s & C-130s
Awards: HERO Scholarship, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Operation
Enduring Freedom Campaign Medal, Op Iraqi Freedom Campaign, NATO Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Interests: SCUBA Diving, General Aviation, Golf and conversational French
Affiliations: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, Student Veteran’s
Association, Member of the American Legion