My ARRAY Journey!

The internet will tell you this might be a 4-5 minute read. I’m sorry :)

I’m not even sure how to describe the emotion right now. There is so much excitement to know how much success is in the future for our ARRAY Family. Yet, just as much sadness knowing that it’s my time to step away from this journey and leave that Family in the wonderful and capable hands of Stephanie Mango, Tim Spadafore, Gregg Mossburg, Joanna Robinson, Ravi Shankar and the CGI family!  Stephanie - it has been incredible getting to know you and your team these past few months. There is no question we found our tribe - and I am so looking forward to reading about all your collective success!

For me, this journey started 13 years ago when I got a call from Rick Knop with an opportunity that he felt would be perfect for me. He sure knew how to pick them! I got to meet some incredible people even before I started - Winston Chan, Bob Deegan, and Brian Leung.  Brian Leung - I can’t even express how much your confidence in me and ultimately, friendship, has meant all these years - especially the patience you showed in sticking with the strategy around my “hypotheses” regarding small business to mid-tier transition strategies in the Federal sector :)

We had some great executives come through to help us grow the business. A huge thanks to Ervin Freeman, Hafidh Ghalib, Rick Perry, Anthony Clayton, Randy Terlecki , Jay Kalath, Brad Barker, Gary Aughinbaugh and Wes Henderson.  Wes - we joined my Dad’s company, ANSTEC, one month apart in the summer of 1991 - and I was honored to still be working with you when you ultimately retired from ARRAY a few years ago. Thank you Brother!

As other amazing people joined our family - it was clear we were on the way. Thank you Brian Knott, Mark Douglas, Kevin Dawson, Tommy Kile, Mike Acton, Jan Johnson, Kyna McCall-Paster, Bruno Pesanti and Ken Moran for all you have done to make us the Air Force and Space Applications Solutions powerhouse that we have become. Axel Foley - you are one special dude and I know you will continue to keep us right there at the top.  Blair Vorgang, my Brother. Almost 20 years working together at two companies - how I’m going to miss our talks on the Nats, LOTR, Star Wars and even some Federal business along the way! Thank you also to Chris Patterson, Sue Dueitt and Mike Devine for guiding our Army strategy, as well as keeping Blair and I straight!

David Joslin - what a tough situation you were in. Joining this tight knit team as our first ever CGO on the weekend the nation shut down in March of 2020 - wow. Somehow though, it did not take long for you to blend into the team and then to guide us forward these last 18 months. Will always have a special place in my heart for our short time together.

Curt White - 1993 was it??  We had a great run in the 90’s at ANSTEC. I was giddy when you agreed to join us at ARRAY in 2018 and love that we got another chance to make more magic!

Bernard Nasseri, Joe Amsden, Vissy Vinyoopongphan and Kristin Brewer .  It’s amazing that we kept our core Federal proposal shop together for these last 12 years. Bernard and Joe - our 17 years of working together have taught me so much - and I know we each enjoyed being part of the Troy Comfort proposal family tree! 

Vissy and Kristin - you know I will miss you the most! We spent 12 years, side-by-side, talking kids (or nieces and nephews) - reading I don’t know how many books together - GoT, LOTR, The Expanse, Graphic Novels, and Sci-Fi in general; talking about all the shows we were binge-watching - and our daily, morning texts to plan our day around what we were having for lunch!

And then of course, my two partners-in-crime, Jon Dittmer and Bob Deegan. Jon, I vividly recall every meeting we had during those 9 months of late 2009 and 2010 - mostly me begging for you to come join me on this ride! After 10 years of already working with you during your active-duty time and while at Oracle - I knew you were my Plan A, B and C - and so blessed that you took the leap! And you brought in an old friend and brother to both of us, Rick Easom, to join our family.  With the 3 of us, I just knew we had the Foundation we needed.

And then there’s you, Bob Deegan. It took us a while to get our groove - but when we did – oh man! I know how I am feeling right now and I have only been here for 13 years. Your journey started when you helped setup ARRAY as MultiMax’s protege back in the late 90’s and then decided to help guide the ship directly in 2007. 

Jon and Bob - we leveraged a lot of our future on the bet we took in 2018 through the leveraged management buyout of ARRAY. Not sure I would be seeing this result today if it weren’t for you letting me be by your side.  Thank you!

Folks - watch out!  There is some magic about to happen as ARRAY joins the CGI family. Getting my popcorn and ready to see the show!!!