MEET OUR LEADERS
Bob Donahue Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Bob Donahue, Jr. is Chief Executive Officer of By Light. Bob’s in-depth expertise in the Government Telecommunication Sector has been the driving force behind the rapid growth of the company. Prior to starting By Light, Bob served as an active duty Army Officer with extensive real world experience in both tactical and strategic communication units. His last assignment was as Program Manager for the DISN Expansion Program (DEP) at DISA, delivering critical infrastructure to the Department of Defense. Bob has an M.S. in Telecommunications and a B.S. in Computer Science. Military qualifications include the Master Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.
Brian Donahue
President
Brian Donahue currently serves as a cyberspace operations subject matter expert & President of By Light. He provides counsel to leaders at the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN) and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Brian served over 30 years in the U.S. Army and he brings extensive experience from Service and Joint assignments. Brian’s worldwide duties ranged from the tactical to the strategic with over 11 years at Corps and below (eight years with the 82nd Airborne Division), responsibilities for U.S. Army networks across the Pacific Theater, and the creation of Task Force 236 to meet urgent operational needs in Afghanistan. Brian’s experience and expertise encompass the operational concepts and technical parameters that underpin the security, operations, and defense of the DODIN.
Mike Bowser
Chief Operating Officer
Mike has been developing and delivering DWDM, SONET, ATM and IP solutions to the Federal Government for more than 14 years. Prior to joining By Light, Mike served as Vice President of Federal Systems for LAMBDA Opticalsystems where he focused on 3D MEMS based all-optical-switching and metro DWDM platforms. He also led worldwide sales efforts at Acorn Networks, a semiconductor manufacturer specializing in OC-192 traffic shaping and hardware-based QoS solutions. Mike has also served as a Global Account Manager for Fore Systems/Marconi where he directed all aspects of the USAF sales territory. Prior to Fore Systems, Mike held engineering management positions with DynCorp and Harris Corporation. He holds B.S. degrees in Computer Engineering and Business Administration and is a distinguished graduate of the Defense Language University.
Kylie Allen
Chief Financial Officer
Kylie Allen is By Light’s Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the financial operations and planning of the company and its subsidiaries. He oversees the Finance & Accounting, Contracts & Procurement, Tax, and Treasury functions. After 15 years of CFO experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry, Kylie has developed passions for building and leading integrated functional teams that embrace customer service, business metrics, and planning rigor. These fundamentals lead to important financial visibility and support business performance. Prior to joining By Light, Kylie was the CFO at Axient (a Sagewind portfolio company), Millennium Engineering & Integration, Culmen International, and a U.S. subsidiary of the Thales Group. Mr. Allen is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and holds an MBA and B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Le Moyne College and a graduate certificate in Taxation from American University.
Mike Hatcher
Chief Revenue Officer
Mike Hatcher is a seasoned executive possessing more than thirty-five (35) years experience in delivering defense, security, and intelligence services to warfighting and mission customers. He joined By Light in 2019, and is responsible for all Growth Activities for the company. Prior to joining By Light, Mike was VP/General Manager – Joint, Air Force and Coalition sector at General Dynamics IT where he led a team of nearly 5,000 highly-skilled professionals delivering world-wide capabilities and services for some of the most demanding, mission-critical customers in the world. Prior to that, Mr. Hatcher was Senior Vice President, C4 Mission Systems and Services for SAIC – responsible for large-scale systems and network support to US Combatant Commanders and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Mike graduated cum laude with a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1981. He is a member of AFCEA as well as the Association of the US Army. He is also a member of the strategic advisory board for the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation and a national representative to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group. Mike and his wife Taylor are frequent supporters of the Stay-In-Step Foundation helping wounded warriors, as well as the Navy Memorial, the USO and the Camp Alleghany for Girls.
Rod Phillips, PhD
Chief Learning Officer
Rod served 29 years in Army positions requiring mission-critical telecommunications solutions at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, and supported worldwide joint and special operation requirements. Prior to joining By Light, he served as the Chief Information Officer/G6 for 1st Corps at Fort Lewis, WA. He was directly responsible for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4ISR) design, deployment, and integration of signal resources for 1st Corps throughout the Pacific Region. At By Light, Dr. Phillips has served in project management and business development roles with AMC, AWG, DARPA, and special programs. He received his PhD in Information Technology and is currently responsible for the integration and optimization of learning management systems and organizational security. Dr. Phillips is PMP and Six Sigma Black Belt certified.
Jeff Jones
Executive Vice President
Jeff Jones is the Executive Vice President responsible for synchronizing our DoD, Federal, and Commercial cyber initiatives, from strategic to tactical, across the enterprise. Prior to joining By Light, Jeff spent over 20 years in the Department of Defense, in a uniformed and Civilian capacity. Most recently, he was a member of the DoD’s Senior Executive Service and served as the Vice Director and Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff J6. Prior to serving with the Joint Staff, Jeff served as the Executive Director, Joint Force Headquarter-Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN), United States Cyber Command. These positions, combined with his numerous years of experience with Army Cyber Command, afforded Jeff an opportunity to work across the full range of cyberspace operations, transport, space, PNT, cryptography, resource management, and congressional engagement. Jeff is a graduate of the US Army War College, and holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science.
Jason Cole
Senior VP, Global Network Services
Jason joined By Light in 2005 and has 20+ years of program management experience. He serves as By Light’s Senior Vice President and is responsible for managing the Global Network Services (GNS) business unit. Jason also provides technical and managerial oversight for Vice Presidents, Program Directors and Task Order Managers assigned to DoD locations around the world. Certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Jason successfully leads By Light’s large-scale IT programs implementing and sustaining DISA’s global transport, voice, video, and data network infrastructure, providing information superiority to the President, Combatant Commanders, Senior Leadership, Services, Agencies, and Warfighters. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and holds numerous program management certifications.
Andrew DeLong
Senior VP, Federal Healthcare
Andrew brings over 30 years of management in a broad range of Information Technology program areas including Service Desks, Network Design and Management, Security Operations, Agile and DevSecOps program management, and asset management systems. He manages a Federal Healthcare portfolio comprised of roughly fifty concurrent projects with four hundred team members. Andrew provides By Light with a focus on properly resourcing and managing the financial health and delivery of our large healthcare focused business. Prior to joining By Light in 2011, Mr. DeLong was the Senior Director of Operations of GDIT’s Veterans Affairs (VA) business unit. At GDIT Andrew managed enterprise deployments of Wide Area Networks, Wireless infrastructure, and Network and Security Operations centers for the VA. Andrew holds a bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Texas and multiple project and technical certifications.
Tim Grattan
Senior VP, Cyberspace Operations
Tim serves as By Light’s Senior Vice President for Cyberspace Operations, supporting the Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network as a subject matter expert for cyberspace plans and operations. His current focus is on defensive cyberspace operations to include the education, training, and exercise of individual and collective skills required for network defenses. Tim joined By Light in 2015 after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps – his last four years of service at U.S. Cyber Command as the Chief of Fires, responsible for offensive cyberspace operations, and command priorities supporting the development of the Unified Platform and the Cyber Mission Forces. Tim’s cyberspace operational experience is reinforced by service as a Marine Corps infantry officer campaigning in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Tim is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds multiple master’s degrees in planning at the operational and strategic levels of war.
Bill Sackewitz
Senior VP, Digital Transformation
Bill Sackewitz is By Light’s Sr. Vice President of Digital Transformation and responsible for accelerating By Light’s adoption of technology best practices and new ways of working to create custom digital solutions, setting the standard for product and engineering capabilities. He oversees the maturation and expansion of key core competencies that include product management, human centered design, agile development, DevSecOps, and cloud services. After leading project teams in the engineering, manufacturing, and financial services industries, Bill joined By Light in 2012 and became a member of the senior management team in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University. He is currently based in Utah where he oversees By Light’s western US operations.
Chris Conrad
Senior VP, High Fidelity Solutions
Chris is an electrical engineer and understands technically what it takes to bid, win, and deliver world-class military aviation training systems. Chris began his career with Link Simulation and Training (which later became Raytheon and Hughes) serving in a variety of engineering and program management capacities before becoming a co-founder of Veraxx, a By Light Company, in 1999. Under Chris’ leadership, Veraxx consistently delivered all training solutions and products within contract cost, schedule and performance requirements. Chris earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and a minor in Physics degree from Wilkes University.
Elissa Wylie
Vice President, Talent Management
Elissa has over 20 years of experience in Talent Acquisition concentrating in the recruitment of Information Technology Professionals. She has an extensive background supporting government customers in the DoD, Intel and Federal & Civilian space in addition to supporting the commercial market focusing on the Telecommunications and Financial industry. In her role at By Light, Elissa is responsible for all aspects of Talent Acquisition to include delivery, strategic sourcing and optimization. Prior to joining By Light, Elissa was the Talent Acquisition Director for the Federal & Civilian Division for General Dynamics Information Technology where she led a team of 45 recruiters.
Dave Owen
Vice President, Simulation Programs
David Owen joined Veraxx, a By Light Company, in 2015. As Vice President of Simulation Programs, David has overall program management responsibility and works with all program managers and the Chief Engineer to ensure Veraxx’s solutions and products meet or exceed all requirements and are delivered on time and within established contract prices. David is a retired Marine Corps Colonel and CH-53E pilot. He served as the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Warfare (DASN ExW) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aviation (DASN AIR). David’s final active duty assignment before his retirement was as the Marine Corps Department Head for PMA205 Naval Aviation Training Systems Program Office at the Naval Air Systems Command. In this position, David managed acquisition and support efforts for 11 aircraft training systems, comprising 68 flight simulators, and associated electronic classrooms, maintenance trainers, materials, and facilities.
Bill Smith
Chief Technology Officer, Cyberspace Operations
Bill Smith serves as the Cyberspace Operations Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) while leading By Light’s EmberSec cybersecurity division. Bill is a strategist with deep cybersecurity and information technology implementation experience. He is currently supporting U.S. Cyber Command, Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA)/Unified Platform, to align strategies ranging from the impact of emerging technologies to resolving complex cybersecurity challenges. Bill is responsible for helping define EmberSec’s vision for technology services; identifying and communicating technology trends affecting clients’ businesses; and shaping the strategy for emerging services and offerings. Prior to By Light, Bill served as a Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director, and technology lead on critical infrastructure and cyber programs for Federal and private companies including startups, financial services, exports, business, telecommunications, and public sector.
Thomas Ryan
Chief Technology Officer, Strategic Innovation
As the Chief Technology Officer, Tom aligns all technology and technological resources to effectively achieve the vision, strategic innovation, and organizational growth for short- and long-term goals. He consolidates the science and engineering efforts to optimize the integration of Agile practices, DevSecOps, Human Centered Design, and Project Management throughout By Light companies. When solving customer challenges, Tom leverages his more than 30 years of experiences and the lessons learned developing and implementing large-scale applications at companies American Management Systems (AMS), Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Hewlett Packard (HP), Harris Corporation and By Light. He provides insight and leadership for customer projects, product development, and business development across Federal, Civilian, Defense and commercial customers. Tom graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Economics. He is a Certified Scrum Master and Certified SAFe Agilist.
Mark Stine
Chief Technology Officer, DISA
Mark joined By Light in 2012 as the Chief Technology Officer of the company’s DISA Vertical to align and grow By Light’s expertise in delivering best in class network and cybersecurity services. His responsibilities include business development, capture and technical innovation across the vertical. Mark has over 25 years of network and security engineering expertise and has assisted DISA and various Intelligence Community customers in architecting their global private networks. Prior to joining By Light in 2012, Mr. Stine held varying positions with Century Link to include Network Chief Engineer, Sales Engineering Director and Sales Manager. He earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering specializing in optics from Johns Hopkins University.
Charlie Smith
Simulation Chief Engineer
Charlie is a systems and hardware engineer and has responsibility for systems engineering and integration and hardware engineering support. Charlie began his career with Sperry Secor (subsequently Honeywell, Hughes Training and Raytheon) in July 1980 and served in a variety of capacities including electrical engineer and systems engineer. Charlie Smith has a BS in Electrical Engineering from VA Tech.
Rob Milchenski
Chief Technology Officer
As Chief Technology Officer, Rob has responsibility for technology insertion, intellectual property development, technology, and information security and overall IT support for the company. Rob began his career with Hughes Training, Inc., and served in a variety of capacities as a software engineer on multiple projects, including lead software engineer on the F/A-18 Weapon Tactics Trainer. Rob earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Maryland.