Download Photo Download Bio
Mr. Whittaker manages the International Program Office (IPO) portfolio of programs currently supporting 66 countries with over 350 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases with a total case value of $2.9B. He supports the Army Security Assistance Enterprise as one of five Army Security Assistance Management Directors who provides total life cycle support to FMS cases. This dual role oversees the development of requirements while writing and managing FMS cases and performs the acquisition functions of a PM/PL delivering training and training system products and services to our partner nations. He cosponsored the development of the $2.4B Enterprise Training and Services Contract (ETSC) that supports Train, Advise, Assist and Mentor missions as well as training systems operations and maintenance support for both the US Army and our international partners around the globe. He co-chairs the Modeling, Instrumentation, and Simulation for Training (MIST) working group with FVEY partner nations to leverage technologies and assure interoperability in the training environment for coalition training and exercises.
Mr. Whittaker previously served as Director, International Programs for Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). He supported 50 partner nations with approximately 200 FMS cases with a total case value of $1B. In this role he was the lead for NAVAIR training and training systems FMS case development supporting multiple aircraft platforms and PMA’s. He was assigned as the PMA-205 Program Manager for International Programs and oversaw the procurement and delivery of aviation training systems in support of the partner nations’ aircraft. As the NAWCTSD Director, International Programs he developed and delivered surface, undersea and special emphasis programs across the NAWCTSD training systems portfolio of products and services. He spearheaded the Building Partner Capacity Program for Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC) program in support of the Department of State. The EIPC program provided COCOM prioritized training capability to 27 partner nations. This program provided regional training capabilities to enable partner nations to support US and NATO missions around the globe by providing them with quality training facilities and methods to support those missions.
Mr. Whittaker has over 38 years of military and government service that began when he joined the US Marine Corps in October 1983. He has over 24 years of international and acquisition experience supporting DOD objectives in building relationships and providing interoperability with our partners. He is DAWIA Advanced certified in Program Management and Business/Financial Management. He is a DOD certified Level III International Affairs Professional.
Download Photo Download Bio
Born in Traverse City, Michigan and raised in both Michigan and Florida, Mr. VanRiper is a senior program leader with extensive expertise in managing operations, cost, schedule, and performance with 25 years of active-duty U.S. Army service including 14 years in the Army Acquisition Corps. Mr. VanRiper has been at PEO STRI since 2017 and is currently the Deputy Project Lead in the International Program Office.
His active-duty service began in 1992. After graduating from Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training in 1993, he served in key roles leading, managing, and supporting diverse units, teams, and programs with detailed knowledge of special operations aviation acquisition processes and sensors systems requirements and capabilities. He culminated his active-duty service as a Program Director at USSOCOM SOF AT&L. His experience includes direct leadership positions, operations management, battalion and brigade staff, program management in the Technologies Applications Project Office (Assistant Program Manager, Sensors and Weapons), the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Office (Product Manager, Apache Sensors), USSOCOM SOF AT&L (Program Director, Silent Knight Radar), and PEO STRI (Support Contractor, Deputy Product Manager for SOF Training Systems, and Deputy Project Lead for the International Program Office).
He has a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach, Florida, and Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School - Monterey, California. Special Qualifications include Defense Acquisition University Program Management Tools (PMT 401), Certified Level III Program Management, Certified Level II Engineering, and Certified Level II Test and Evaluation.