Douglas Kunzman has joined Xcimer as Vice President of Defense. Doug’s priority is to deepen our engagement with the defense community around our laser architecture.

With three decades of defense expertise, Doug’s career thus far is a masterclass in leading complex, high-stakes programs under pressure. He commanded two US Navy warships: USS Gravely, which he guided through new construction and operational sea trials; and USS Lake Erie, where he oversaw a $90 million overhaul to early completion while rebuilding crew morale and retention.

As Commodore of Destroyer Squadron Nine, he led 2,500 sailors and six front-line combatants in operations across the Middle East, developing and implementing tactics that materially increased efficiency and safety across all assets in a region marked by conflict and geopolitical tension.

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as a Joint Planner with Joint Forces Command in Iraq, Doug was selected to execute a plan to restore fuel and electricity across Al Anbar province. He succeeded in nine months where previous efforts over several years had failed.

After the Navy, Doug brought that same problem-solving sensibility and rapid execution to the commercial frontier. He led New Shepard Operations and Maintenance with Blue Origin, then joined Astra as VP of Test and Launch Engineering and Operations — two companies where the engineering is hard, the timelines are real, and “good enough” isn’t.

Doug holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Idaho and completed the Executive Leadership Business Course at University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His bachelor’s degree in business administration and management comes from the The University of New Mexico.

Welcome aboard, Doug.

Photo credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Wood, 2018