Rocky L. Blackwell

Rocky L. Blackwell founded Advanced Concepts Enterprises, Inc. on December 11, 2002, and served as President and CEO from that time until September 30, 2008. On October 1, 2008, Mary Blackwell, his wife, took over duties as President and he continues as Chief Executive Officer.

Rocky brought ACEs from start-up to its current revenue size and infrastructure in just five years. Under his leadership, ACEs has established a reputation for integrity, technical excellence, and exceeding all customers’ expectations. As a seasoned senior executive with extensive military and commercial experience, Rocky manages multiple million-dollar, highly specialized, and technical programs. He is a dynamic leader, who quickly identifies problems, formulates solutions, and directs appropriate action to ensure success.

Prior to establishing ACEs, Rocky was a Division Chief at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) Command and Control (C2) Operations Support Division, Shalimar, Florida. He led a team of 44 engineers, analysts, and consultants in the C2 and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (IRS) arena to satisfy a time-sensitive tasking from the USAF Chief of Staff, Commander of the Air Combat Command, Commander of the Aerospace C2 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center, and the Commanders of the C2 Technology and Innovation Group, C2 Battlelab and UAV Battlelab.

As a highly-revered U.S. Air Force officer, Rocky served as Flight Commander, Branch/Division Chief in USAF, Joint, and Combined Headquarters. He was responsible for doctrine development, modeling, and simulation, and future Theater Battle Management C2 requirements to support campaign planning for air operations center operations. He supervised standardization/evaluation and certification functions for NATO Combined Air Operations Center and was the mission-ready Combat Plans Director in charge of wartime operational assessment. Rocky was responsible for formulating and managing the details of building Air Tasking Orders for Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and SOUTHERN WATCH and has over 1000 hours in tactical fighters and 150 combat hours as an ACE Director during Operation DESERT STORM.