David J. Otterson

Union Grove, AL ***** 256-***-**** ad36ly@r.postjobfree.com

Chief Operations & Manufacturing - Business & Cultural Transformation / Restructuring Officer

Inspirational, confident Executive well-versed in all aspects of leading a stand-alone company or major division.

Academic accomplishments – BS Mathematics, US Naval Academy and MS Finance, University of Texas.

Cost conscious manufacturing operations executive with over 20 years of P&L Leadership, ranging from start-up to $300M in annual sales while operating in multiple industry spaces; entrepreneurial (start-up), turnaround, private equity, and large public company.

Strategic and tactical visionary in multiple areas: business development, plant operations, organizational alignment, customer relations, and market growth tactics.

Talent for proactively identifying and solving problems and reversing negative trends in sales and profit. Maximization of productivity, quality, and safety improvements via LEAN principles; cost control and key talent infusion.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Executive Leadership Strategic Planning & Tactical Implementation Market Penetration & Growth Plant Operations Lean Implementation Dynamic Cultural Paradigm Shift Cost Control Discipline Customer Relations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cubic Corporation, Huntsville, AL Product Line, Director 2022 – Present

Functional Leader for GATR (SATCOM) and Secure Communications commercial product offerings.

Lone product line that was profitable in FY23 - 17% return on $29M in sales.

Excel Outdoors, Haleyville, AL Vice President, Global Manufacturing. 2021 - 2022

Organization, LEAN, and operational oversight for a global multi-site commercial/military manufacturing company.

Lead the proposal team that was awarded a contract of $100M over 5 years for tactical equipment.

Sig Sauer Firearms, Inc., Jacksonville, AR (2021) Site Executive & General Manager. 2020 - 2021

Business and operations/manufacturing Leader for the company’s ammunition manufacturing business.

Directed $37M capital project to integrate automation and facility optimization.

The Gill Corporation, Edgewood, MD President, ($300M Sales) 2018 – 2021

P&L for privately held aerospace metallic & non-metallic honeycomb core manufacturing company. Transitioned a high mix low volume business into a high mix serial production entity.

Introduced Lean concepts to increase capacity by 42% without additional square footage.

Implemented $11.4M in capital improvement projects to streamline the value chain, automate processes, and upgrade equipment.

Implemented a robust internal training program to develop CNC and wet process operators in an austere and competitive labor market.

Increased sales by 53%, EBIT by 11% YOY, and 3-year backlog by 34% in 2 years.

HITCO Carbon Composites, Inc., Gardena, CA President/CEO, ($245M Sales) 2014 – 2017

P&L for an aerospace composite structures and advanced materials manufacturing company. Recruited by the company to affect a quick turnaround of an underperforming asset to increase valuation for divestiture of the company. Turnaround and sales completed in 20 months.

Successfully negotiated the exit from 4 loss-making programs that accounted for 35% of the top-line revenue stream.

Successfully negotiated 2 contentious assertion packages with key customers that provided a 22% increase to EBIT performance.

Stabilized operational performance to maintain and subsequently increase current business by over $25M / year for the next 8 years. Positioned the company to realize growth and positive EBIT.

Business implemented pulsed line manufacturing methodologies and increased the B787 Advanced Composite Floor Beam (ACFB) rate from 30 beams/week to a consistent 90 beams/week.

Utilized lessons learned from the B787 ACFB line to initiate the B787 Center Wing Box Stringer production line from start-up to 270 Stringers/month in less than 1 year.

Executed a controlled cultural paradigm shift to position the company for sustained positive performance.

Reduced overall staffing by 28% over a 1-year period with a corresponding increase in operational performance, delivery, and quality performance.

Significant changes achieved in MRB reduction – over $4M in the first year.

UIC Maintenance & Manufacturing Holdings, LLC, Huntsville, AL President/CEO, ($150M Sales) 2010 – 2014

P&L for 7 subsidiary companies involved in federal contracting for maintenance, base support, marine services, range management, logistics services, and a standalone manufacturing/assembly facility.

Exceeded FY13 sales and EBIT goals by 26%, while the projected FY14 backlog and sales / EBIT goals represent a 122% increase over FY13 in an austere Government Contracting environment.

Achieved single digit G&A rates across all subsidiary companies through LEAN and continuous improvement initiatives.

Developed a strong pipeline to facilitate double-digit growth for the next 3 – 5 years.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Master of Science (MS), Finance – University of Texas, Dallas, TX

Bachelor of Science (BS), Mathematics – United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Exchange student to the Swedish Naval Academy.

Six Sigma Training: Motorola, Black Belt, Six Sigma Academy, Master Black Belt.

ISO 9000 Lead Assessor Certified.

Naval Aviator with over 2,200 flight hours in fixed and rotary-winged aircraft.

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