James Smith
San Diego
Summary
25+ years of experience in Project Management, Program Planning, and Business Process Improvement within aerospace. 20 years of hands-on Aerospace experience leading development, production, and sustainment activities. Proven leader and manager with strong customer focus; builds high-performing teams to support Operating Units. Deep knowledge of EVMS, IMS, IMP, and schedule integration best practices. Technical proficiency: Acumen, COBRA (some), Primavera (basic), SAP, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word, Milestone Pro. Active Top Secret (SCI) and Secret clearances (ATDC in RB). Prior military service: 1987–1994.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Program Planning 3 (ATDC Division)
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
San Diego, CA
01.2022 - Current
- Manage Scheduling Managers and direct reports supporting multiple programs across the division.
- Oversee schedule governance, EV integration, monthly CRDL delivery, and customer schedule status.
- Drive continuous improvement in planning processes and scheduling team performance.
Manager, Program Planning 2 (Strike 1 Division)
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
San Diego, CA
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Managed a team of eight schedulers supporting multiple caveats across Rancho Bernardo and Palmdale.
- Ensured timely delivery of accurate Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and compliance with EVMS requirements.
- Conducted peer reviews and provided coaching to improve schedule quality and on-time status reporting.
Master Operations & Project Management
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems / Northrop Grumman Corp.
San Diego, CA
01.2005 - 01.2020
- 2018–2020: Lead on multiple programs in the S1 area in Rancho Bernardo. Created and led the iQBD process for GH, Triton, and TAS programs — an automated tool integrating EV status, QBDs, and IMS to improve accuracy and save time for CAMs and schedulers. Ensured on-time EV delivery and consistent status reporting to customers.
- 2017–2018: Lead for GH programs; conducted peer reviews across programs to maintain schedule accuracy and CRDL on-time delivery.
- 2014–2017: Lead on the ROK Program. Directed efforts to achieve a successful UCA Baseline (March 2015) and met baseline milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, IBR). Delivered the IBR presentation and created automation between CAMs and schedulers to improve EV accuracy and updates between QBDs and the IMS.
- 2010–2014: Program lead for KQX, Firescout, Firebird, and Fire-X. Maintained weekly metrics to ensure on-time delivery to customers.
- 2005–2010: Supported the proposal and master planning phase of UCAS-D; developed the successful IMP and IMS that contributed to winning the proposal (>$600M) over Boeing.
Skills
- Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) / Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) / Integrated Master Plan (IMP)
- Acumen, COBRA (some), Primavera (basic), SAP, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word, Milestone Pro
Accomplishments
- Developed and implemented iQBD process and automation that integrated Earned Value with IMS and QBDs across multiple programs, reducing manual effort and improving schedule accuracy.
- Successfully led ROK program to UCA Baseline and subsequent milestone achievements; delivered a successful IBR.
- Contributed to winning the UCAS-D proposal by producing a competitive IMP and IMS.
CLEARANCE
Active Top Secret (SCI) and Secret clearances (ATDC in RB)
Timeline
Manager, Program Planning 3 (ATDC Division)
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
01.2022 - Current
Manager, Program Planning 2 (Strike 1 Division)
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
01.2020 - 01.2022
Master Operations & Project Management
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems / Northrop Grumman Corp.
01.2005 - 01.2020