Technical Leads

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.

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.

Mr. Lyders is a highly motivated, energetic, and trusted acquisition professional dedicated to understanding and meeting the needs of our Warfighters. Mr. Lyders started with CESI in 2018. He is the Senior Vice President of the Advanced Training Systems group which provides software and hardware training/testing solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense and other nations. Prior to joining CESI, Mr. Lyders served as a civilian member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps supporting the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation in a number of technical, program management, and staff operations leadership positions. Mr. Lyders holds a Master’s degree in Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and is Project Management Professional (PMP) certified. Mr. Lyders is a graduate and avid fan of the University of Central Florida (UCF).

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 Solutions 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.

Mr. Fransson joined Cole Engineering Services, Inc. in 2012 as Senior Program Manager and now serves as Senior Vice President of Operations managing the Simulation Products & Services business operation. He brings over 25 years of experience in the modeling and simulation business, national and international program management, business development, capture management, export of defense articles and services, along with contracts and practices from programs and projects based in the USA, Europe, and Asia. Prior to joining Cole Engineering Services, Inc. Mr. Fransson worked for BAE Systems, managing military training systems programs. Mr. Fransson holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and is Project Management Certified (PMP).

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.

Mr. Chandler oversees all business development activities to include strategy and marketing initiatives and focuses on the Air Force & INTEL accounts. He joined CESI in 2013 after retiring from the U.S. Air Force – his last assignment being the ROTC Detachment Commander at the University of Central Florida. During his 26-year career, he accumulated over 4400 flying hours in fighter aircraft (A-10, F-15C and F-16) including a tour as the Commander/Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. Mr. Chandler graduated from the USAF Academy and holds multiple Master’s Degrees in National Security Studies and the use of airpower at the operational and strategic levels of war.

Mrs. Allison has over 20 years of diverse experience in Human Resource areas including training, talent acquisition, labor relations, compliance, and compensation/benefits with a majority of her experience working with federal government contractors in both union (Kennedy Space Center) and non-union environments. Mrs. Allison earned a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane Law School, and also holds a Master’s degree in Management – Human Resources Management, as well as a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, both from the University of Central Florida. She also holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, and she is a Society for Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), as well as volunteer Instructor for the American Heart Association. Since joining Cole Engineering in 2009, Mrs. Allison has made it a focus to help the company be an employer of choice and receive accolades such as, “Best Companies to Work for in Florida”, as well as “Top 100 Companies for Working Families”, “Best Places to Work for Millennials”, “#1 Mid-Size Employer in Orlando”, and “Corporate Community Service Champion”.

Ms. Bushway joined CESI in 2017 as a Senior Contracts Manager and now serves as the Senior Vice President and Director of Contracts. With both private industry and Government experience across a breadth of functional areas, she provides in-depth knowledge and a wide range of skill sets and know-how. Ms. Bushway has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. She is an NCMA-Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) and a former civilian member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps supporting the Army Contracting Command as a Contracting Officer. Her experience spans all phases of the acquisition process including proposal preparation, negotiations, contract management, project control, and successful program execution. Ms. Bushway is responsible for key areas of corporate execution while leading strategic projects for the implementation and management of numerous policies, procedures, and internal systems, including Government property and export compliance.

With significant experience and invaluable credentials in the Defense Industry, Mr. Fee heads all financial, accounting, tax and compliance matters in his position as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Cole Engineering Services, Inc. (CESI), Mr. Fee spent almost 14 years at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Mr. Fee led SAIC’s Orlando Business Unit for Modeling, Simulation and Training (MS&T) as the Business Unit’s Controller. As a Business Unit Controller and Vice President for SAIC, he managed the financial results of several operations with over 2,000 employees and a revenue base that ranged from $250M to $1B. Mr. Fee has experience with several programs in Live, Virtual and Constructive simulation domains. His experience/responsibilities included rate determinations, inventory procedures, staffing, proposals, and management decisions regarding required internal funding (IR&D/OH). Prior to SAIC, Mr. Fee was a staff auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick, were he had significant exposure to several governmental organizations (Non-Profits, State and Local Governments, Federal, etc.). Mr. Fee holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from Clemson University and is currently an inactive CPA. He has extensive experience in business operations and organizational development and has supported the Defense Industry for over 22 years.

Mr. Redd joined CESI in 2019 as Procurement Manager and now serves as Procurement Director managing the purchasing and subcontracts business operations. He brings 20 years of Government Subcontracting experience in all phases of the procurement life cycle, which encompasses solicitation, negotiation, management, and closeouts. Mr. Redd has earned numerous awards, including Excellence in Procurement, High Performance Employee, and Mentor of the Year. He has successfully served as Small Business Liaison, which led to a substantial increase in subcontracts awarded to small businesses. Mr. Redd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Auburn University and a Master’s degree from Webster University.

With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years in the defense contracting industry, Lauren is a seasoned professional known for her strategic leadership and expertise in guiding high-stakes captures and proposals. Since joining By Light in 2017, she has been at the forefront of the company’s efforts to secure and manage Global Network Services projects, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation for the Warfighter. Throughout her career, Lauren has been instrumental in driving a multitude of critical proposal pursuits across a diverse array of domains. Her portfolio of accomplishments includes the transitioning and outfitting of hospitals in Korea, the enhancement of satellite control networks for the Air Force, and the advancement of security engineering for the Marine Corps. Furthermore, her strategic insights have been vital in the support of prepositioning fleets and logistics for the Army, the installation of oil rigs in Kuwait, and the ambitious endeavors of launching rockets into space for NASA.

Her leadership not only fosters a culture of collaboration and success but also reinforces the company’s reputation as a trusted partner committed to delivering results that exceed expectations. Lauren’s profound impact on the defense contracting landscape is a testament to her strategic vision, her ability to navigate complex challenges, and her passion for supporting those who serve. As the Vice President of By Light’s Strategic Captures and Proposals, her influence and guidance remain integral to the company’s ongoing success and its mission to serve the nation’s defense community with unparalleled dedication and expertise. Lauren holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and is a Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt.

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  joined  By  Light  in  2021  as  the  Vice  President  of Business Development serving Defense Information Systems Agency and the Intelligence Community. With three decades of experience providing Information Technology solutions to the Government, Bill’s vision provides leadership to By Light’s strategic growth with technical innovations in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, Cyberspace Operations, and Modeling and Simulation Training.

Prior to joining By Light, Bill served as the Managing Director of Strategic Government at Level 3 and CenturyLink. Bill also served as the Department of Defense (DoD) Sales Vice President for AT&T Government Solutions, where he was responsible for establishing and maintaining key customer relationships serving the DoD.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Towson University. He serves on the Board of Directors on the Metropolitan Washington United Service Organizations Inc., and has been a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association since 1985.

Ms. Crawford has 20 years of experience in the Modeling & Simulation Industry, leading Quality Assurance, Process Management, and Integration and Test teams. She is currently overseeing the Quality Assurance and Process Management activities for all programs at CESI. She has expertise in software development and test processes, quality methods, and standards, specifically International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015, and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Development Maturity Level 3 (ML3) best practices. She has directed test programs on One Semi-Automated Forces (OneSAF), Combined Arms Command and Control Training Upgrade System (CACCTUS), Enhanced Dynamic Geo-social Environment (EDGE), and Maneuver Collective Training Systems (MCTS). Ms. Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the University of Central Florida.

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.

Currently serving as the General Manager at By Light in Port Orange, FL, since 2021, Cory provides leadership, strategic plans, operational systems, and quality controls for the successful planning, execution, and operations of lines of business. Managing a P&L portfolio consisting of government contracts throughout the U.S. and overseas, Cory focuses on organic and new growth in support of strategic goals. He offers leadership oversight for various functional areas, including Contracts/Subcontracts, Supply Chain, Operations, Program Management, Field Services, Hardware Engineering, Configuration Management, Training Product Development, Quality, Local Facilities Management, Local IT Systems Admin group, Local HR Admin group, and Finance & Accounting.

Cory’s career also includes positions such as Capture & Business Development Manager at Ke`aki Technologies and Marketing Operations Manager at Raydon Corporation. His professional journey began in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a Staff Sergeant from 1995 to 2004, holding the position of Light Armored Reconnaissance Infantry Small Unit Leader.

Cory holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and has obtained several certifications, including a master in business development from MBDi and various certifications from Shipley Associates and the University of Central Florida. He is an active member of professional organizations such as the Volusia Manufacturers Association, Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, and Daytona State College’s School of Computer Science.

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.

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.

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.

Mr. Armstrong has over 20 years of experience in the Modelling and Simulation Industry and has led M&S innovation and development across the US DOD, UK MOD and NATO. He led the adoption of game technologies in the UK and across NATO through the UK’s applied research program and as chair of the NATO modeling and simulation group. Mr. Armstrong’s responsibilities include business development, solution architecture and technical innovation across all of Cole Engineering Services, Inc. (CESI) programs. Mr. Armstrong brings a passion for technical innovation, focused on delivering effective training to military personnel. With a focus on immersive technologies including Augmented and Virtual Reality, he has led the development and delivery of over 20 simulation systems around the world. Prior to joining CESI in 2016, Mr. Armstrong was the Chief Technology Officer for QinetiQ Training and Simulation division, including establishing its North America training business. Mr. Armstrong graduated from Warwick University with a Master of Physics (MPhys) and is a QinetiQ Technical Fellow.

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 Practice Consultant (SPC).