dsta team

R. Scott Perry
Executive Director, DSTA
President, PDI

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

R. Scott Perry possesses twenty-seven years of progressive, results oriented management experience. Currently, Scott serves as the President of the Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI), a statewide 501(c)3 not for profit organization, established to encourage economic development throughout North Carolina, with particular respect to homeland security and national defense. PDI is the parent organization of the Defense Security and Technology Accelerator (DSTA).

Scott also serves as the Executive Director of DSTA, a statewide thought leader which assists technology companies with the rapid development of emerging dual-use defense and security technology solutions. 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.  

Scott retired with 23 years of Army 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.

Edward J. Petkovich
Director, Business Development

edpetkovich@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3006

Edward J. Petkovich is the Director of Business Development for the Partnership for Defense Innovation (PDI) and the Defense and SecurityTechnology Accelerator (DSTA). PDI is a state and federally funded nonprofit 501(c)3 organization chartered to promote economic growth in dual use, emerging technologies serving the defense and commercial markets. As the Director of Business Development, Mr. Petkovich identifies companies and organizations that provide critical solutions to government requirements.

Mr. Petkovich received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University and has completed Executive Programs at John Carroll University and Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Petkovich retired from the military after 23 years of service in both the Active Army and Army National Guard. Nineteen years of Mr. Petkovich’s government service was in Special Operations, to include deployments in support of contingency operations and tours in direct support of the Global War on Terror.

Prior to joining PDI, Mr. Petkovich was the Senior Program Manager of Lockheed Martin’s North Carolina Operations and managed classified global programs that provided support to the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Communities. Mr. Petkovich served on the Charlotte Research Institute’s Five Ventures Executive Review Committee; he currently serves on the Advisory Board for Mathematics and Computer Science at Fayetteville State University and the President’s Board of Visitors for Methodist University.

Joan P. H. Myers

Director, Special Programs

joanmyers@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3012

Joan Myers is an entrepreneurial, politically astute leader whom has a deep passion for innovation, a global perspective and a strong sense of patriotism and commitment to U.S. competitiveness.  Currently she serves as Director, Special Projects for the Partnership for Defense Innovation and the Defense Security Technology Accelerator.  Former assignments include Director, U.S. Policy for SAS, the largest privately held software company in the world, and she served as President and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) for over nine years.   In her role at NCTA she focused on growing and prospering the technology industry.

Ms. Myer’s strengths in “building bridges” between public officials and business leaders and has been pivotal in shaping the Information Technology sector and returning value to NC companies.   Actively engaged in the global Eisenhower Fellowship program, Ms. Myers studied Cyber Security and Cyber Terrorism and led the effort to create the North Carolina Defense and Security Technology Accelerator. She continues to collaborate with the FBI and helped in the launch of the FBI Domain Counter Intelligence Program aimed at better protecting U.S. intellectual property.

Joan was also appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the Presidential Rank Review Board in 2004.  Joan is also the creator of the 5 Pillars of Executive Leadership in a Non Secure World conference and believes that in order to remain on the forefront of innovation and global competitiveness, business leaders need to embrace security as a corporate ethic and weave a culture of security throughout the corporate enterprise.  She has worked with companies and organizations to explore ways to better protect our economic competitiveness and national security interests.

Ms. Myers team-building history and collaborative nature has given her a proven track record of performance, deep respect in her peer group and state and national recognition.  Upon coming to North Carolina in 1990, she managed the Celebration North Carolina Foundation.  In 1993, she finished an appointment as the Assistant Secretary for Administration for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and later served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, Joan is a Board Member of the National Environmental Modeling & Analysis Center, a member of the College of Computing and Information Technology Advisory Board at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, an Advisory Board member of the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at North Carolina State University and a Board Member, RTP Chapter, of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

J. Clay Porter

Program Manager, WiFi Laboratory

clayporter@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3010

J. Clay Porter is a former communications officer at Fort Bragg. He has an extensive background in systems integration of data communications equipment, IP security and networking devices and mobility solutions. Clay joined the Defense & Security Technology Accelerator as their WiFi Lab Program Manager in June, 2008.  He is responsible for the administration and oversight of the WiFi lab daily operations. 

Jordan Whitfield

Senior Business Developer

jwhitfield@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3011

Jordan Whitfield has over 20 years of experience in business development.  He holds an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to joining the DSTA team he was the Senior Business Counselor at the UNC Charlotte Small Business and Technology Development Center.  Jordan has also served as an adjunct professor in business at Johnson C. Smith University.

Suzy Hrabovsky
Operations & Business Manager

suzyhrabovsky@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3003

Paige Ladd
Marketing/Communications Coordinator

pladd@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3005

Mary Anne Brooks

Senior Accountant

mbrooks@dstanc.org

(910) 307-3013

Rachel Ross
Executive Assistant

rross@dstanc.org
(910) 307-3004

NCSU Centennial Campus Office

PDIral@dstanc.org

UNCC Ben Craig Center Office

PDIchr@dstanc.org