Program Manager with 25 Years of Change Management Experience

KAREN M. PICKELL

Program Manager

Orlando, FL 407-***-**** *****.*********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Strategic and mission-focused senior Program Manager with 20+ years of experience leading complex defense training programs across multi-disciplinary teams. Proven leader, adept at motivating project teams and successfully managing multiple concurrent projects from initiation through delivery. Extensive background in manufacturing, hardware and software development and integration, financial reporting, vendor management, scope development, budget preparation, and client satisfaction. I have exceeded corporate and customer objectives using innovative methods for controlling costs, improving efficiencies and early/on-time deliveries

.

CORE COMPETENCIES

DoD Acquisition & Program Management ~ Budget & Cost Control ~ Cross Functional Leadership

Quality Improvement ~ Hardware/Software Integration ~ Integrated Master Scheduling (IMS) ~ Financial Oversight ~ Risk Management ~ Subcontract Management ~ Mentor ~ Agile Processes ~ Critical Thinking

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Carley Corporation, Orlando, FL: Apr 2023 – Feb 2026

Program Manager; Modern Training; Navy

Manage technical, cost, schedule, quality commitments and performance of the products.

Lead and manage a dynamic multi-faceted project with deliverables including Courseware, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and Facilitation Guides

Research and provide cause of change for variances in project scope, schedule, and cost.

Developing various training products while interweaving core concepts throughout the training environments using a blend of critical thinking and AI powered tools

Established a highly effective relationship between the team and the stakeholders to produce high quality, easily assessable Warrior Toughness training

Successfully coordinated a complex filming schedule with the customer on a Naval base including Navy sailors and actors filmed for training videos and podcasts.

Program Manager; RRL FY22 Complex Media; STAVE/LCS Courseware

Provide strategic leadership and management of Complex PC-Based Training programs including analysis, design, development, implementation, testing, and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) planning across all functional areas.

Lead and support ILS elements including provisioning, technical documentation, training support, maintainability analysis, lifecycle sustainment planning, and logistics integration to ensure long-term system supportability

Weekly IPTs with customers, teammates, subcontractors, and internal teams to successfully plan, execute, and deliver products

Establish and monitor schedules; communicate assignments to ensure tasks are accomplished on schedule and within budget

Ensure products are developed to contract specifications and technical requirements, with comprehensive risk mitigation plans established

Manage and monitor subcontractors to the contract schedule while defining overall look, functionality, design conventions, scope, and lifecycle support requirements of developed products

Present executive-level briefings and programmatic reports to internal and external stakeholders, including status of engineering, production, and logistics performance

Consultant, Orlando, FL

Program Manager

Strategic development of process improvements across PMO to support delivery excellence.

Designed and developed lean processes that provide for efficient production of complex products and facilities requirements

Manage and monitor Subcontractors to the contract schedule and establish the overall look, functionality, design conventions, and scope of the of the developed products.

Act as a liaison between internal and external stakeholders, maintaining effective communication

Served as a subject matter expert for guidance in program management discipline

Developed internal project management processes and tools to enhance consistency of presentations and management of projects.

Proposal efforts working with the Operations Finance team to develop TINA compliant proposals

Cubic Simulation Systems, Inc., Orlando, FL

Senior Program Manager

Engagement Skills Trainer for DOE and DOD customers.

Directed multiple national and international EST virtual training products for $30+M contract for military training systems. Life cycle responsibility including product development, transition to production, customer delivery and support, and production close out.

Managed strict adherence to manufacturing production workflows and procedures including cabling, harnesses, CCAs, sub assembly, machining, welding, and hardware/software integration.

Responsible for obsolescence avoidance, including both hardware/software/simulation and visual capabilities.

Led Agile teams, tracked velocity, finance and other KPIs relative to plan.

Collaborated with developers, stakeholders, and marketing to develop and define product roadmaps.

Strictly enforced company guidelines for configuration management which greatly reduced testing version issues.

Driving operational and manufacturing excellence through continuous improvement.

Cubic Simulation Systems, Inc., Orlando, FL

Program Manager; Ground, Tracking System and Shoulder Launched Missile Trainers: Javelin

Received the highest rating in all categories for the CPAR, Contractor Performance Assessment Report for the program.

Responsible for upgrading the Javelin Basic Skills Trainer and Javelin Field Tactical Trainer for obsolescence, new requirements, and software technology improvements.

Managed a $40+ million multi-year production for Javelin Shoulder Launched indoor and tactical training systems. Accomplished yearly upgrades to the design and software while increasing profit and delivering ahead of schedule.

Managed and monitored all the major supplier/sub-contractors schedules, quality ratings and their contract negotiations.

EDUCATION

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through 2017; re-certification in process

Lean Six Sigma Training, Negotiations, EVMS and PMI continuing education courses

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering/Management Science, Penn State University

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Project ~ MS Office Suite ~ JIRA ~ SDLC methodologies ~ EVM Tools ~ MRP Tools ~ SAP ~ Salesforce

Contact this candidate