About Us

Jay guides the company through rapid growth, elevating it to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies each year since 2016. Prior to NextGen, Jay was Founder/CEO of ProLogic, Inc. and oversaw growth from a one-person company to more than 330 employees resulting in a successful merger.

Jay was adjudged the WV Small Business Person of the Year and Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the US SBA. Jay is also leading activities to curb avoidable blindness around the world.

Chetan Desai serves as NextGen Federal Systems’ Chief Operating Officer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. During his career, he has served in various roles – including Lead GIS Developer, Program Manager, Chief Engineer/Scientist, Division Manager, General Manager, and Executive Vice President. Mr. Desai has been the Principal Investigator for several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and related research and development projects, such as weather exploitation for C2 impacts, LiDAR data management and visualization, hydrography distributed data management framework, and integration of DoD modeling and simulation and GIS data. He has provided solutions for a broad range of Federal Government customers including USAF, US Navy, US Army, US DOE, US DOT, and Intelligence Community.

With nearly two decades of business development experience, JP is responsible for cultivating strategic partnerships within the DoD. Since becoming NextGen’s first full-time employee in 2011, JP was instrumental in opening the company’s first field office at APG, MD, capturing multiple contracts in support of the U.S. Army’s C5ISR community. JP’s focus has grown to include new business development efforts in support of the DISA and Huntsville, Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal. JP graduated from Salisbury University.

As NextGen’s Senior Vice President and Group Manager, Dave Bissett leads the day-to-day business operations of the company, providing leadership, oversight, and mentoring for corporate functional areas including Human Resources, Recruiting, Contracts, Security, Information Technology, Marketing, Facilities, Proposal Management, and Process Initiatives. Previously, as a Division Manager, he led the capture, execution, and delivery of integrated software solutions and professional services for DoD and Space Systems customers.

Dave has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. Prior to NextGen, he served as Director of Program Management for Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), a commercial software company for aerospace and defense applications. Dave has technical and domain experience across several areas including space situational awareness (SSA), geographical information systems (GIS), modeling and simulation (M&S), software engineering and integration, program management, and business operations and services. He has provided support and solutions for US Government customers including US Army, US Air Force, NASA, and various Intelligence Community organizations.

Jeremy Loomis is a Senior Vice President of Engineering at NextGen Federal Systems. He provides technical direction for innovative software solutions and internal research efforts, establishes engineering process and standards, leads the development of technical proposals, and provides guidance and mentoring across NextGen divisions. He has a master’s degree in Computer Science from The Ohio State University. Prior to NextGen, he served as Chief Software Engineer at ProLogic where he managed and led successful teams in the delivery of complex solutions using a variety of software engineering methods.

Jeremy has experience with a wide range of technologies and domains, including systems engineering and requirements management; object-oriented analysis and design; computer graphics and data visualization; GIS and geospatial data models/algorithms; modeling and simulation; web-based, net-centric, service-oriented architectures; large data management; cloud computing models, and DevSecOps toolchains. He has a demonstrated record of success in applying advanced technologies to meet the needs of diverse customers in commercial, civilian, DoD, and Intelligence markets.

Joe Robertson is a Vice President, Group Manager at NextGen Federal Systems providing general management, operations, and business development leadership for current and future programs supporting DoD and Intelligence Community customers. His career includes military and industry leadership roles in operations, acquisitions, and program management. He holds Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and has led the capture and execution of multiple technology programs providing development, R&D, sustainment, and on-site support as both prime and subcontractor.

Travis Lewis is Vice President, Business Development at NextGen Federal Systems, providing business development and technical solution leadership across the DoD portfolio. Travis draws upon 22 years of Air Force experience as a pilot, USAF Weapons School graduate/instructor, and C2 subject matter expert to lead the development of innovative solutions across NGA, DIA, Air Force, and Army customers. Travis has captured over $180 mil in contracts across USAF, NGA, DIA, CBP, DOJ, USTRANSCOM, continuing to expand the NextGen markets in these domains. Travis is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.

As NextGen’s Vice President of Proposal Management, Pat Sego leads growth opportunities, the proposal and business development process, and tools optimization. She has more than twenty-five years of experience in capture, sales, proposals, and contracts for federal government information technology solutions and services. Prior to NextGen, she supported the strategic growth goals of small and large businesses, focused on HHS, Commerce, DHS, Department of Justice, DISA, and NASA, supporting performance-based contracting and capture best practices. Pat is a graduate of Western Kentucky University.

Wayne Hall serves as Vice President of Product Management at NextGen, where he leads the vision, strategy, and execution of the company’s software products and technology platforms. In this role, he aligns operational needs with engineering execution, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, and responsive to evolving mission requirements across defense and intelligence environments. Wayne holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science with a concentration in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia. Prior to NextGen, he served as Vice President of Products at RedLattice and, earlier, as CEO and Partner of Ascolta, LLC.

With extensive experience in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, Wayne is a proven technology leader that has specialized in translating complex mission needs into deployable, high-impact capabilities. His background includes driving innovation within highly regulated environments, supporting secure and compliant architectures, and maximizing the value of technical investments through disciplined product and portfolio management. He has a strong track record of building and leading high-performance teams, advancing mission outcomes, and delivering solutions that meet the operational demands of today’s national security landscape.

Daryl Everding is responsible for directing and leading the Research & Development/Technical Solutions division at NextGen Federal Systems. The R&D division serves as an “incubator” that leverages currently funded R&D and IRAD efforts to create warfighter capability, learn new technologies, develop future products, and support technology transition. This division comprises a diverse portfolio of programs and projects, including autonomous drone technologies, multi-dimensional near-real-time weather impacts, space weather forecasting, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, and modern software practices (CI/CD, DevSecOps, cloud modernization, micro-service architectures). Daryl has broad experience performing R&D, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and Team Leadership over the past 20+ years. He has supported IC and DoD customers, including NRO, DARPA, Navy, Special Forces Command, and Air Force. Daryl has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

As NextGen’s Professional Services Division Manager, Sean oversees the day-to-day program management and business development within his division, focusing on the Army, DIA, CBP, USMS, and other federal agencies. Previously, as a Senior Program Manager, he led the capture, execution, and delivery of integrated software solutions and professional services for Army C5ISR customers, specifically CECOM SEC. Sean has a BS in ChemE, MBA and MS in Environmental Management. Prior to NextGen, he served as Director for APG programs and RS3 PM at Sigmatech, a Huntsville-based professional services provider. Sean also served as an Army Officer for more than ten years specializing in CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives) with two combat deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom and time with technical escort and commanding an organization focused on the healing and transition of injured Soldiers. Sean is PMP certified and an Eagle Scout. His passion is supporting Veteran’s transition programs.

As NextGen’s Digital Engineering Division Manager, Marcos leads a division focused on advancing digital engineering services and solutions for DoD, Intelligence Community, and commercial customers. He oversees a diverse portfolio delivering software engineering, IT solutions, and technical services, with a strong emphasis on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Digital Mission Engineering (DME), Modeling and Simulation tools, and digital thread integration across the system lifecycle. As a senior leader, Marcos drives business growth, fosters customer and employee engagement, and collaborates with executive leadership to position NextGen at the forefront of digital engineering in national security and defense. Marcos brings over 15 years of broad experience in program management, capture leadership, systems and software engineering, and R&D execution, supporting customers across the Air Force, Navy, Army, DARPA, and international partners. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico and continues to champion digital engineering adoption, autonomy integration, and next-generation mission solutions across the defense sector.

Dr. Randy Schauer is a Senior Director of Engineering Solutions supporting program execution, strategy, and growth opportunities across NextGen. He holds a Ph.D. and MS in Computer Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and a BS in Computer Science from Duquesne University. As a Technical Lead, Randy is responsible for technical program execution on NextGen’s Global Synthetic Weather Radar (GSWR) Research to Operations (R2O) program with the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center / Weather Systems Branch. As a Solution Architect, he provides engineering leadership throughout the capture cycle, from opportunity identification to contract award, focusing on technical solutions and proposal development. Randy has served in various roles during his career, including Capture Chief Engineer/Solution Architect for a Civil/DoD Space & Weather business, IRAD Principal Investigator, Corporate High Performance Computing (HPC) Champion, Civil/Defense HPC Chief Architect, and Software Engineering/Integration Lead. He has experience with various engineering disciplines, including software engineering, system engineering/integration, systems/enterprise architecture, HPC applications/systems/architecture, and AI/ML applications. He has provided solutions for US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, DTRA, NOAA, FDNY, and International customers.

Michael Drob is a Chief Engineer supporting program execution, strategy, and growth opportunities across NextGen. He holds an MSEE from Johns Hopkins University and a BSEE from the University of Michigan. He is a certified Neo4j Graph Data Science professional.

As a Technical Lead, Michael supports the Army’s ASTEROID contract, helping develop a Generative AI strategy for RF and standing up a multi-partner pilot to address emerging RF threats. Within NextGen, he also shapes the company’s Generative AI strategy, spanning enterprise and system architecture as well as business strategy. He has spearheaded internal initiatives that leverage Generative AI to enhance software development and business practices, including modernizing engineering workflows, advancing cloud architecture and data engineering, and improving knowledge management and proposal operations.

Michael has served in roles including Principal Lead Scientist for Generative AI at Hawkeye 360, Senior Staff at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Senior Research Scientist at Perspecta Labs, RF Engineer at Raytheon, and manager of an AI/ML consulting practice. He brings experience across software engineering, systems engineering and integration, enterprise and cloud architectures, ML-ops and CI/CD, and scalable AI/ML applications. He has supported the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, DARPA, NGA, and international customers.

Victor Denard is the Senior Director for Capture at NextGen Federal Systems, where he leads business development and strategic growth across the defense sector. With nearly 20 years of experience, he excels in client engagement, DoD program modernization, and C5ISR domains. Victor’s expertise spans the Aberdeen Proving Ground, National Capitol Region, and Huntsville markets. Previously, he drove significant revenue growth and capture success, managed multimillion-dollar pipelines, and secured high-value contracts. Victor holds a Master’s in Information and Telecommunication Systems from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in History from Towson University.

Alec Engell, Technical Director, leads data science and machine learning efforts and supports growth strategy relating R&D solutions to government and commercial marketplaces. Alec is a solution architect and leads technical writing for NextGen’s R&D division, with capabilities including machine-learned soil moisture mapping for the Air Force and Army and machine-learned forecasts of solar radiation events for the Air Force and NASA. He serves on the American Commercial Space Weather Association (ACSWA) Executive Committee and is Chair of the American Meteorological Society’s Space Weather Conference. He also co-leads NextGen’s Mentor-Intern program that supports over 30 college interns. Alec has his degree in Earth and Planetary Science from Harvard College and is an FAA licensed UAS pilot.

As Director of Human Resources, Jenny Robbins provides management and oversight of the HR Department and related functions. Jenny believes that a positive employee experience starts before the first day and is dedicated to providing accessible, knowledgeable, and relatable HR for the entire team. Before joining NextGen, Jenny served as the Recruiting Manager for Steptoe & Johnson PLLC and the Dual Career Coordinator at West Virginia University. Jenny has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College. She is a National Certified Counselor and Certified Resume Writer. Jenny serves as President for a 501(c)3 animal rescue, Homeward Bound WV, is on the Board of Directors for the Morgantown (WV) Community Newcomers Club, and is a graduate of Leadership Monongalia.

As Director of Recruiting, Chris Mills leads the talent acquisition team and provides strategic staffing solutions to NextGen’s business and program leaders. Chris brings over ten years of technical recruiting experience in the field of defense contracting and federal services. Chris leverages his national network of technical professionals to bring new talent to the NextGen team. Prior to NextGen, Chris served as a professional recruiter for a staffing provider that focused on federal programs in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region and was the recruiting manager for a contractor with the National Security Agency. Chris graduated from Salisbury University on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

As Director of Financial Operations & Compliance, Kelsey Prunest leads the Accounting Department and oversees financial operations, including corporate budgeting, accounting compliance, indirect rate structures, and program financial management and reporting. She manages key government submissions related to billing and annual cost reporting, and oversees NextGen’s ISO 9001 and ISO 20000-1 certifications to ensure quality and service standards. Since joining NextGen as an intern, she has progressed through the roles of Associate, Staff, and Manager. Over time, Kelsey has gained a deep understanding of the company’s operations and people, using that insight to support sustainable growth and the company’s ongoing success. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Accounting from West Virginia University. She is passionate about maintaining efficient, compliant financial systems that support NextGen’s long-term goals.

Bob Farrell, Technical Director, leads the discovery, development, and integration of innovative software solutions that meet Federal, Military, and Intelligence customer needs. As a veteran of the USAF and a Federal Civil Servant for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Bob accumulated 40 years of experience in military operations. He has expertise in a wide range of technical domains, including systems engineering; requirements management; object-oriented design; web-based, net-centric, service-oriented architectures; big data; data science; machine learning; relational theory; databasing; cloud computing; atmospheric physics; weather and space weather forecasting; numerical weather modeling; and physics-based modeling of weather’s impact to human activity. Bob has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Meteorology from Penn State University.

Rich Wrobel, Senior Program Manager for NextGen’s ASTEROID program, brings over 20 years of military and program leadership experience to delivering mission-critical, interoperable defense capabilities. A task-oriented and people-focused leader, Rich drives execution while fostering team cohesion to meet strategic business goals and ensure successful program outcomes. His career spans military service in the Air Force and defense contracting which includes leadership roles supporting the U.S. Army’s Software Engineering Center and the Army Reprogramming Analysis Team (ARAT), where he oversaw mission-critical upgrades that improved agility, accelerated deployment timelines, and supported evolving battlefield requirements. Certified as a PMP and Agile Practitioner with an MBA, Rich is known for translating strategy into results through decisive leadership, effective stakeholder engagement, and a relentless focus on program success.

Robert Tammaro, Senior Project Manager, provides leadership and mentoring for multiple project teams. Robert has 21 years of experience in Air Force Command and Control (C2), working in multiple Air Operations Centers and achieving the distinction of Master Instructor from the Air Education and Training Command. Robert has 18 years of project management experience, leading teams supporting IT service operations, incident management, Agile software development, and modeling and simulation for customers at US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), NORAD-Northcom, Air Mobility Command (AMC), and the 618 Air Operations Center/Tanker Airlift Control Center (618 AOC/TACC). Robert is a graduate of the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

As a Program Manager, Eric Wheeling oversees NextGen’s GSA OASIS ID/IQ (Pools 1 & 3) and manages the sensor site planning team developing the Sensor Emplacement & Implementation (SENSEI) software for the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (IEW&S), Integrated Ground Security Surveillance Response Capability (IGSSR-C). Eric has nearly 20 years of military and program leadership experience and holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Master, and a Facility Security Officer. Prior to his career in defense contracting, Eric served as a Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Marine Corps, specializing in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) with deployments to South America, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Eric’s most rewarding professional experience was serving as a Marine Liaison at Walter Reed National Medical Center for the Wounded Warrior Regiment.