Mark C. Williams

A decorated leader in the military who served for 24 years, Mark C. Williams retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel in 2013 – at which point he began what would be an accomplished career at Sierra Nevada Corporation, a renowned aerospace and national security contractor specializing in innovative advanced technology solutions for aircraft.  He began as its Director of Business Development from 2013 to 2015 before advancing to Senior Director of Business Development for a year, serving as Vice President of Aviation of Strategic Plans and Programs from 2017 to 2021, and ultimately ascending to the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy in 2021.  In this capacity, he is responsible for the indirect budget for the largest business area of the organization; setting strategic direction in terms of investments made in Internal Research and Development (IRAD), proposal pursuits, and marketing money.

Since joining Sierra Nevada Corporation, Mr. Williams considers his most notable achievement to be establishing the Aviation Innovation & Technology Center at the Dayton International Airport.  The first 100,000-square-foot facility opened in December 2022.  The second facility is currently under construction and will be open in 2024.  This center opens up a multi-billion-dollar market to Sierra Nevada Corporation and can support the largest of aviation projects.  The center makes Sierra Nevada the first company to restore aviation production and modification capability in Dayton since the Wright-Brothers.

In 1989, Mr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics from the United States Air Force Academy and subsequently joined the service – advancing in rank from Lieutenant to Captain to Major to Lt Colonel to Colonel.  Over the course of two-plus decades, he worked on a lot of the branch’s development programs for fighters, strategic bombers, precision guided munitions, integrated strike technologies, special operations, and special programs.  He served as an F-16 and B-2 Program Manager for the Aeronautical Systems Center from 1989 to 1995, student in the Education with Industry Program at the Air Force Institute of Technology from 1995 to 1996 and was the Precision Guided Munitions Program Manager and Executive Officer at the newly formed Air Armament Center from 1996 to 1999, served in the Commander’s Action Group and as Deputy Chief for Senior Officer Management for HQ’s Air Force Materiel Command from 1999 to 2001, Squadron Commander for Aeronautical Systems Center and Integrated Strike Technologies Manager for Air Force Research Laboratory from 2001-2005, student at Eisenhower School for National Defense University from 2005-2006, C-130 Program Director at U.S. Special Operations Command from 2006-2009, and B-2 System Program Director and Division Chief from 2009-2013 – during which he spent a majority of his time on the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

As a testament to his achievements, Mr. Williams was recognized as a 2022-2023 Marquis Who’s Who of Distinguished Leaders and was published in the Wall Street Journal, 2022-2023 Who’s Who in Aerospace & Defense by Dayton Business Journal, 2017 Sierra Nevada Corporation Executive of the Year, 2012 Lieutenant General James T. Stewart Award for top System Program Director in Aeronautical Systems Center, 2011 Northrop Grumman Corporate Management Council Team of the Year, 2011 Williams J. Perry Award for Technological Excellence, 2010 Dr. James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence Award, and 2009 Dr. James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence Award.  Attributing his success to his faith and to the values his parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles instilled in him, as well as his many mentors – including Lieutenant General Dick Reynolds, Lieutenant General Charlie Coolidge, and the Honorable James Geurts – he also holds a Master of Business Administration in finance from Xavier University and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School.

Looking forward to the future, Mr. Williams strives to help Sierra Nevada Corporation reach its goals, intending to leave the organization better than when he first joined it and further help the national security of the country.  As a leader, he has lived by the following quote from General George S. Patton: “Never tell your people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their ingenuity.”