Thomas Shields

Thomas Shields has a diverse work experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Thomas currently serves as the Director of Strategic Research and Development Program Portfolio at TTM Technologies, where they lead the planning and execution of new product development efforts for the aerospace and defense sector. Prior to this role, they worked in various positions at the U.S. Air Force Reserve, including Spaceport Chief Technology Officer, Acquisitions Officer, Program Manager, and System Engineer. Thomas also held positions at Telephonics as a Program Director and Senior Program Manager, where they were responsible for managing sensor/radar programs for the Department of Defense. Shields began their career in the United States Air Force, serving as SEI&T Branch Chief, Assistant Director of Operations, Mission Director, Program Manager, and Spacecraft Systems Engineer. Throughout their career, Shields has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, program management, and technology development in the aerospace and defense industry.

Thomas Shields holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in Systems Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management, which they obtained from 2010 to 2013. Prior to that, they completed a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Clarkson University, graduating from 2004 to 2008. Additionally, Shields has obtained several certifications including Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute in May 2020, and various defense acquisition and systems engineering certifications from the Defense Acquisition University.