dsta team

R. Scott Perry
Executive Director, DSTA
President, PDI

scottperry@dstanc.org
(910) 864-DSTA (3782)

R. Scott Perry is serves as the president of the Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI) and the executive director of the Defense and Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA).  He possesses twenty-seven years of progressive, results oriented management experience. In this position, he oversees a unique model of business education which provides coaching, mentorship, business education, outreach and networking opportunities designed to accelerate the formation and growth of technology companies. 

He has extensive experience and knowledge in government contracting.  As a defense contractor, his previous positions include Program Manager, Deputy Director, Senior Director of Operations, and Senior General Manager.  In his last position with Lockheed Martin Information Technology (LMIT), Scott managed 92 employees located in seven states and two countries.  He has designed, bid/built, equipped and staffed six offices / training facilities totaling approximately 50,000 sq feet.  

Mr. Perry retired from the U.S. Army with 23 years of service, spending more than 20 years in U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, including assignments throughout Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. A significant portion of his career was based at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC.

Suzy Hrabovsky
Director of Operations

suzyhrabovsky@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3003

Gary E. Mitchell

Senior Business Developer

gary.mitchell@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3011

Gary E. Mitchell is the Senior Business Developer for the Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI) and the Defense and Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA) in the Charlotte area. Mr. Mitchell earned his B.A. in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte.  He specializes and has published in the field of political violence and right-wing terrorism, research methodology and religion.  Additionally, Mr. Mitchell is an adjunct faculty member at UNC Charlotte where he teaches courses such as Political Violence and Terrorism, International Relations and Global Issues.  Mr. Mitchell also served almost 9 years on active duty with the U.S. Army; some of which was spent in the special operations community. 

Prior to joining PDI, he was the District Director for U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes where his duties included working with local, state and federal officials on projects of particular concern to the district, assisting with the development of public policy and directing all staff and operations within the congressional district.  In particular, Mr. Mitchell was instrumental in the defense arena with regards to the latest round of Base Realignment and Closure, assisting with the recruitment of defense contractors to the district and ensuring that the interests of Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB were given significant priority regarding the legislative process. 

Mr. Mitchell has a definitive understanding of the federal appropriations process and has worked on numerous projects that lead to the creation of careers and significant economic development within the state. He has a proven track record of bridging political, socioeconomic and cultural hurdles in pursuit of public good objectives. 

Randy McLean

Business Developer

randy.mclean@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3012

Randy McLean is the Business Developer for the Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI) and the Defense and Security Technology Accelerator (DSTA) in the Raleigh area. He joins PDI from Global DataGuard, Inc., an award winning provider of network security services, where he served as Vice President of Strategic Alliances, responsible for worldwide partnerships with value added resellers in the information technology industry.  Prior to joining PDI, Mr. McLean also worked in economic development for Harnett County, where he facilitated the master plan of the biotechnology park in Lillington and assisted in obtaining grant awards of $2M for the park's infrastructure. 

Paul Morelli

PM, Research & Development Lab

paul.morelli@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3020

Paul Morelli joins PDI from Lockheed Martin, where he retired after 30 years.  He brings with him extensive experience in integration and test engineering, environmental testing and EMI/EMC compatibility testing.  During his tenure at Lockheed Martin, Paul worked at the NASA Johnson Space Center for 25 years where he served as Project Engineer and Project Manager on multiple high profile programs for the Human Space Flight Program.  Prior to his retirement, Paul worked at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego, leading the Integration & Test technical effort for the BAE Systems (UK) Command and Control Mobile Subsystem Program.  As program manager, Paul will be responsible for general oversight of the PDI EMI & Environmental test facility, data labs and for providing guidance and leadership in the testing of Government-off-the-Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial-off-the Shelf (COTS) electronic and communications hardware.

Tim Tompkins

Systems Integrator, Senior

ttompkins@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3029

Paige Ladd
Marketing/Communications Coordinator

pladd@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3005

Mary Anne Brooks

Senior Accountant

mbrooks@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3013

Kim Goodall
Front Desk Coordinator

kim.goodall@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3000

NCSU Centennial Campus Office

PDIral@dstanc.org

UNCC Ben Craig Center Office

PDIchr@dstanc.org