John Frederick is the Director of Innovation and Testing Strategies at Veracity Engineering. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Manager of the FAA’s Verification and Validation Strategies and Concept Visualization Branch. With over 40 years of solution-driven experience supporting the FAA mission, he has collaborated with leaders and experts from the FAA, other government organizations, industry, and academia to explore innovative methods for addressing complex challenges. He has been the FAA’s primary advocate for high-quality, innovative V&V policies and strategies that ensure the safe and effective acquisition of advanced capabilities.
A creative problem solver with a visionary approach, Mr. Frederick’s expertise is fueled by decades of technical experience and collaboration with industry experts. He has worked as a National Airspace System programmer, test engineer, and Operational Test Lead on Air Traffic Control automation systems. He has led T&E efforts for more than 12 major FAA automation programs. As the FAA’s V&V Subject Matter Expert, he has consulted and partnered with the DOD, DOT, NASA, DHS, MITRE, and international agencies on testing and technology advancement challenges. Additionally, he is an active senior advisor to the International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA) and has served as the T&E representative for the FAA on the Acquisition System Advisory Group and the Joint Resources Council.
Mr. Frederick holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Management from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, where he earned a Certificate of Mastery in Leadership for a Democratic Society.
Veracity Engineering is pleased to announce the addition of Ivan Bekkers as our new Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Bekkers is a visionary executive with extensive expertise in aviation management, travel technologies, operations management, and product marketing. Having started his career in the airline industry, working in revenue management and information technology, he then held senior positions with airline technology providers, initiating market entries in real time data analytics, flight status and data distribution, and new product introductions such as predictive flight status services. Since moving into the airspace management industry, he has led key efforts in supporting the FAA, NASA, and commercial aviation programs. Mr. Bekkers will oversee Veracity’s existing programs and seek new opportunities to grow our customer base.
Mr. Bekkers holds Masters degrees in both Applied Economics and Business Administration from Northwestern University and the University of Antwerp. He lives in Ashburn, VA with his wife, with whom he enjoys traveling and home remodeling.
Mr. Ocloo is a seasoned executive with over 31 years of leadership experience in logistics and supply chain management, aviation support, strategic planning, and talent development. A retired Marine Colonel, he has successfully led teams at all levels and played a key role in complex, intergovernmental organizations. His proven ability to navigate dynamic environments and drive operational excellence make him a valuable addition to our leadership team.
Mr. Ocloo holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Boston University. He has further honed his expertise through executive education programs at MIT, Penn State University, Marine Corps University, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center. He resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and family, where he enjoys golf, traveling, and mentoring future leaders.
As the CEO, Mr. Tran draws on over twenty-five years of industry knowledge and experience to provide the corporate vision and strategy that has led Veracity Engineering to become the company it is today. Veracity Engineering is one of the industry leaders in aviation systems engineering and management consulting.
Prior to founding Veracity Engineering, Mr. Tran was personally responsible for the management of several large scale and highly visible programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These efforts included supplying program management and systems engineering support for mission-critical air traffic control communication, surveillance, and flight planning systems. Mr. Tran has provided technical consulting for major corporations such as Nextel International, designing, implementing, and optimizing cellular, trunk radio and microwave networks.
Mr. Tran is an active member and sponsor of various non-profit organizations that promote diversity and leadership training. These organizations include the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) and the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA). He is one of the founding members of the FAPAC Business Advisory Partnership (BAP).
Mr. Tran holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in communication and power systems from the University of Maryland at College Park.
As Veracity Engineering’s Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Starnes is responsible for the company’s business development and strategic initiatives. He is also responsible for market and product development of Veracity’s SurfaceView surveillance and security offerings.
Mr. Starnes’ 30 years of experience includes senior positions with companies providing products and services to the federal government market as well as commercial and municipal government markets. In these roles he has been responsible for all P&L functions as well as business development and the introduction and deployment of many communications and security products. He has worked with a number of federal agencies including the Departments of State, Defense, Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Interior and Transportation including extensive work with the FAA.
Mr. Starnes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee.
Iris Lugo holds the position of comptroller at Veracity, where she is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial management, contract administration, and administrative functions. With over 25 years of diverse experience, Ms. Lugo has cultivated a strong proficiency in management, human resources, accounting, budgeting, financial planning and analysis, and business operations. She has spent more than 20 years with government contracting companies across several Federal agencies.
Ms. Lugo earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland University College. She subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Johns Hopkins University. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Lugo actively participates in her community by serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations, actively serves on Alumni Committees.
As Veracity Engineering’s Senior Technical Advisor, Ms. Cox provides subject matter expertise in the development of strategies for opportunities in the aeronautics domain.
Prior to joining Veracity Engineering, Ms. Cox was the Federal Aviation Administration’s Assistant Administrator for NextGen. Ms. Cox led the transformation of the nation’s air traffic control system with responsibility for the multi-billion dollar NextGen portfolio. Other previous positions include the Director of International Technology Programs in the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense. A physicist, Ms. Cox served as Chief of Physics and Scientific Director of the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development in London. She also worked as a scientist responsible for thermal vacuum conditioning and testing of the Hubble Telescope for NASA.
Ms. Cox graduated from Converse College and received a Master’s Degree from East Carolina University. She has a certificate in U.S. National Security Policy from Georgetown University and is a DAWIA Level III Certified Acquisition Professional in Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering. Ms. Cox also earned her private pilot’s license in 1985.
As Veracity Engineering’s Vice President of Program Operations, Mr. Stroop is responsible for ensuring the successful execution of all programs as well as providing oversight of contract management. He previously served as Veracity’s Vice President of Finance and Administration.
Mr. Stroop brings a wealth of technical and managerial experience and led the development of the task order management process that eventually became the basis for the company’s ISO 9001:2008 certified process. As Veracity Engineering’s former Director of the Communications Portfolio, Mr. Stroop led a team of project managers with purview extending across multiple contract vehicles and encompassing over 145 personnel supporting the FAA. During this time Mr. Stroop also served as Program Manager of the Enterprise Communications Support Services (ECSS) contract. His 30+ year career includes both technical and managerial positions with a number of Fortune 500 corporations as well as small and mid-size businesses. Since 1989, Mr. Stroop’s work has been primarily in support of FAA efforts in the areas of Communications and Safety.
Mr. Stroop earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia and his M.B.A. in Finance from the Duke University, Fuqua School of Business. He earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2009. David lives in Fairfax County, Virginia with his wife of 37 years, DeeAnn. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.