ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) Board of Directors' meeting in February 2015, ARA promoted three leaders from Division Manager to Vice President. ARA's newest Vice Presidents are Randy Brown of the Virtual Heroes Division (VHD), William "Brother" Ratliff of the Southeast Division (SED), and Lew Goldberg of the Analytical Solutions Division (ASD).
Randy Brown
Randy Brown is Division Manager of the VHD Raleigh, NC and Orlando, FL offices. Under his leadership, the division has grown, diversified, and re-energized. VHD's work in Raleigh encompasses virtual and immersive training, education, and simulation technologies and live and constructive training and military terrain work are conducted in Orlando. Mr. Brown's message of opportunity and growth has resulted in additional projects, new customers, and new hires, laying positive groundwork for the future.
Mr. Brown joined ARA in 2009 with the acquisition of Virtual Heroes, Inc. as the Chief Technical Officer of the company. In 2011 he was promoted to ARA's Virtual Heroes Group Leader and became Division Manager in 2012. Mr. Brown has over 25 years of experience in the software development industry. He specializes in 3D immersive games, software development and software architecture and has worked with a wide range of commercial, government, and private organizations.
"Over the last several years Virtual Heroes has become one of the consistent, top-performing divisions in the company. Randy's leadership, marketing emphasis, and attention to detail is a big part of their success." - Software, Systems & Modeling Sector Manager Allen York
Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Oklahoma State University and obtained his master's degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
William Ratliff
As the Division Manager for SED in Raleigh, NC, William "Brother" Ratliff has successfully taken the reins of the largest ARA division and has SED positioned for growth and success. SED offers broad expertise spanning many technical and programmatic areas, with an ability to conceive and implement novel, software-based, solutions to complex problems. Brother's responsibility includes offices located in Raleigh, NC, Suffolk, VA, Santa Barbara, CA, Nashua, NH, and Pinehurst, NC. He specializes in Military Operations Research and Engineering Management.
Mr. Ratliff joined ARA in 2008 as a member of SED's Information Exploitation Systems Group where he supported several military and government programs. In 2010 he was promoted to ARA's Intrarisk Group Leader where he had organizational responsibility for leading the group's risk management services and strategic initiatives. Mr. Ratliff was promoted to Division Manager of the Southeast Division in 2012.
"Since his promotion on May 1, 2012 to Division Manager of Southeast Division [Brother] has done an excellent job building camaraderie in the division, growing their core business, and establishing new customers and business areas for ARA." - Software, Systems & Modeling Sector Manager Allen York
Mr. Ratliff's 20-year career in the U.S. Army included assignments leading infantry and aviation units as well as combat operations in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and was commissioned an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. In addition to his operational assignments, Ratliff also earned a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University before returning to the U.S. Military Academy where he served as an Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering. He is a member of the Military Operations Research Society.
Lew Goldberg
Lew Goldberg's, Division Manager of ASD, emphasis on diversification, strategic vision, and superior project management has led to exceptional results and performance in one of ARA's sixteen operating divisions.
Mr. Goldberg joined ARA in 2007 as the Director of CCO with a personal goal of establishing a physical presence in Crystal City focused on supporting key Pentagon organizations. He was responsible for planning and opening the Crystal City Operations (CCO) office in 2008 with one new employee and one government customer, which is currently ASD's largest client today. Under his leadership, the office has grown steadily to 50 personnel (including the North Chesapeake staff, added in 2012). Mr. Goldberg was promoted to Division Manager on October 1, 2012.
Mr. Goldberg served 25 years with the U.S. Army and retired as an Air Defense Colonel. He specializes in Systems Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA), Unmanned Systems, Force Protection, Missile Defense, and Pentagon Processes. His expertise and experience has supported ARA's mission with government and military defense contracts, and has helped ASD play a key role as a focal point for all of ARA in serving these organizations.
"Throughout his tenure at ARA, Lew has consistently demonstrated mature leadership, strategic vision, and project management skills. Lew has demonstrated the team spirit, work ethic, and company loyalty standards expected of true leaders within ARA." - Gulf Coast Sector Manager Glen McDonald
Mr. Goldberg earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California Los Angeles, as well as a Master of Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master of Business Administration at Marymount University.
About Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) was founded 1979 in Albuquerque to solve problems of national importance by providing science and engineering research, technical support services. The company's applied research delivers solutions for national defense, homeland security, aerospace, transportation and manufacturing.
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