Chief Operations Officer

**Chief Operating Officer (COO) – HR3DGI Program** **Location:** Alexandria, VA **Looking for an opportunity to make an impact at a global scale?** Join the Leidos Defense Sector, where our teams support “can’t fail” missions that protect national security across the world. We deliver operational excellence, advanced geospatial capabilities, and integrated airborne ISR solutions through collaboration, innovation, and dedication to our customers. Everything we do is rooted in our Mission, Vision, and Values—and driven by our commitment to doing what’s right. **About the Role** Leidos has an opening for a **Chief Operating Officer (COO)** supporting a contractor‑owned, contractor‑operated manned aircraft program headquartered in **Alexandria, VA**. This position plays a critical leadership role within the **High‑Resolution 3‑Dimensional Geospatial Imaging (HR3DGI)** program—one of the largest and most advanced airborne geospatial collection efforts in the world. HR3DGI is a complex operations and technology integration program executed across multiple Combatant Commands (COCOMs). Leidos serves as the sole provider of manned airborne collection, processing, and dissemination of high‑resolution 3D geospatial data worldwide. As COO, you will report directly to the Program Manager and serve as the primary operational liaison to Government Program Managers, military partners, and program stakeholders at CONUS and OCONUS locations. You will lead daily operations across multiple deployed and CONUS sites, oversee collection management, manage personnel, and ensure the program maintains operational readiness and mission success. This role supervises **8–10 Site Operations Managers** and coordinates across a program team of **100+ deployed personnel**, including direct‑report managers for Flight, Ground, and Technical Processing operations. This position is based in **Northern Virginia (Alexandria, VA)**. Regular travel to local customer sites (Fort Belvoir) is required, with infrequent OCONUS travel. **Primary Responsibilities** - Lead and supervise daily operations across multiple sites, including mobilization and re‑mobilization activities - Manage all deployed airborne flight operations, collection activities, and onsite processing - Oversee administration, aircraft maintenance, logistics, facilities, communications, operational systems, and vendor subcontracts - Coordinate planning, scope development, design, and direction of daily operational tasks - Maintain operational oversight of staff, equipment, aircraft, and mission systems - Develop, refine, and implement operating procedures to ensure safe, effective operations - Partner with QA/QC teams to support Government audits (GFR via AR95‑20, DCMA 8210.1D) - Team with Lead Pilots and Chief Pilots for flight operations; team with Lead Mechanics and Director of Maintenance for ground operations - Maintain a monthly Operational Readiness Rate of **90% or higher per aircraft** - Enforce flight and ground safety, regulatory compliance, and operational standards - Support CONUS resource managers with scheduling, logistics, procurement, and pre‑deployment coordination - Resolve operational issues or conflicts quickly and communicate effectively with the customer and program leadership - Develop site standup, shutdown, mobilization plans with accurate lead times and briefings for PMO and customer staff - Perform all duties necessary to ensure responsiveness and readiness of the HR3DGI program **Required Qualifications** - Active **Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility** - Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of directly relevant experience (additional experience or training may substitute for degree) - Minimum 4 years of direct experience in operations‑focused management roles - Experience leading, managing, or supporting deployed/OCONUS teams - Ability to obtain a passport and travel internationally - Willingness to travel OCONUS to Hazard and Hardship locations on short notice - Ability to…