Leadership

data analytics for customers conducting global operations.

Melo served on active duty for over 23 years, as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. Upon retiring from the U.S. Navy, he was the director of the Virginia Troops to Teachers Program prior to founding ITA.

Melo serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula Campaign and the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund. He is the Chairman of the Deans Advisory Board, the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. He also served on the Governor’s Commission on Job Creation and Economic Development and the Secure Commonwealth Panel.

He received a bachelor’s degree in forestry (environmental conservation) from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1979 and a master’s degree from Old Dominion University in 1993.

to over 360 full and part time employees in 20 different states within the US and overseas in the Middle East. ITA International provides integrated services in the areas of operational support, marine engineering and data analytics for customers conducting global operations.

Prior to joining ITA, Mrs. Melo worked as an Early Childhood Educator for over 20 years in over 10 different schools across the country.

Mrs. Melo serves on the York Foundation for Public Education Board of Directors and the Mary Baldwin University Advisory Board of Visitors.

She received her Bachelor of Science from Mary Baldwin University in 1981 in Psychology with K-4 Teaching Certificate.

federal service. In January 2021, he was promoted to president and chief operating officer of ITA.

Honecker’s more 34 years of diverse experience as a federal employee includes 21 years as a senior member of the Senior Executive Service. While his early career focused on financial management, strategy and logistics/business transformation in the Pentagon, his last two assignments were in fleet operational commands initially as the deputy commander at the Naval Network Warfare Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He was responsible for providing leadership for over 15,000 personnel in over 20 countries supporting, 290 ships and approximately 900,000 customers. In his final assignment, Honecker served over 13 years as the executive director/chief of staff for a four-star fleet commander at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. There, he was responsible for generating ready Navy forces for global employment, providing operational and planning support for two Combatant Commanders, and running the business of the Fleet. He also served as the chief of naval operations senior civilian.

Honecker earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and economics and a master’s degree in public administration. Additionally, he has completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI program in foreign politics, international relations and national security, and is a 2009 graduate of the Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Institute. His government awards include: the Presidential Rank Award from four different presidents and both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Navy Distinguished Civilian Service awards – the highest awards given to DoD executives.

management, and global help desk.

Mr. McGhee has held executive leadership positions at CACI (Senior Vice President of Industrial Consulting and Systems) and American Systems (Vice President of Global Training and Development). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech; a Master of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary; and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Old Dominion University. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate from the Project Management Institute and has received continuing education certificates in Strategic Negotiations and Leadership from Harvard University and Stanford University.

at Incirlik Airbase. In Egypt, John was the Country Controller for a large construction company performing contracts for the Army Corps of Engineers.

In the commercial sector, he worked as CFO for a builder of Custom Carolina Sportfishing boats in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Mr. Altizer, a Virginia native, graduated from Virginia Tech in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Major in Accounting. He received his CPA certification in 1988.

for the U.S. Census Bureau. She has also worked in strategic human capital management positions within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy, and FEMA.

A native of Georgia, Amber began her career as U.S. Naval Supply Corps Officer following graduation from Rhodes College with a B.A. in International Studies and Economics. She was assigned as a Naval Officer, and later, government civilian, to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, in Washington DC (also known as Naval Reactors), ultimately serving as the program’s human resources director.

Amber holds a Master of Arts degree in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University’s School of Political Management, and a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from University of Maryland, University College. She has also earned certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

of ITA to ISO 45001:2018 as well as the company’s transition to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 Management Systems.

Glenn is a nuclear trained U.S. Navy veteran with over 30 years’ experience in Program Management, Data Analytics, Leadership, People Development, Quality Assurance, Reactor Controls Maintenance, Operations, and Training. Prior to joining ITA, Glenn served as Command Master Chief for U.S. Second Fleet, Battle Force Seventh Fleet/Carrier Strike Group 5, Task Force 20, USS Carl Vinson (CVN70), Training Center Great Lakes, HM-15, and USS Oak Hill (LSD15).

Before joining ITA in 2020, Barnes served as manager of Strategic Communications at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Technical Solutions Division (TSD), where she developed integrated business communications strategies, products and marketing campaigns in support of major business pursuits. She also collaborated with the HII Corporate Communications team to develop an enterprise media engagement strategy for the division. Prior to that, she was manager of Communications for HII TSD’s Nuclear & Environmental Group where she managed the group’s communications strategy to align with the division’s goals to achieve marketing, public relations and talent acquisition objectives. Barnes began her career with Northrop Grumman where she held various public relations and communications roles with increasing responsibility for over 13 years.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Hampton University in 2001.

. He served in the East Wing as the Director of Administration for the White House Military Office and in the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to two different A1’s. He also served as the Vice Wing Commander of the 501st Combat Support Wing at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. Before retiring, he served as the Director of Manpower, Personnel & Services for Air Combat Command Headquarters and as the Installation Commander for Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE).

As the 633 Air Base Wing Commander at JBLE, Ross commanded three groups, providing installation support to more than 18,000 Air Force and Army personnel, including Headquarters Air Combat Command, Headquarters U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, four operational wings, eight brigades and more than 20 major associate units. He was directly responsible for providing mission-ready expeditionary Airmen and Soldiers to combatant commanders in support of joint and combined operations worldwide.

Clint holds a bachelor’s degree in human factors engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas, a second master’s degree in military arts & science from the Air Command & Staff College, and a third master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College. Additionally, he completed the University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School Executive Development Program.

Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Commanding Officer of Combat Direction System Activity, Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Following his Navy career, Greene joined Virginia Tech serving in a variety of roles including Associate Director for Strategic Development of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science. He has led or supported initiatives for a broad spectrum of research activities to include unmanned systems, data analytics, wireless communications, weapon systems, computation and space science. He was the founding executive director of the Mid Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Virginia Tech’s FAA sponsored UAS Test Site.

Greene has a bachelor’s degree in general science from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in national security affairs (Strategic Planning) from the Naval Postgraduate School.

for establishing and leading the research and innovation portion of the 100-acre, $450 million mixed used Tech Center. He identified, recruited and supported technology-based companies to commercialize innovation and accelerate the lab to market process.

Johnson has extensive experience working with well-known domestic and international brands in competitive analysis and positioning, strategic marketing and branding, business organizational development, manufacturing management, strategic planning, and predictive analytics. With over 20 years of corporate experience, Johnson has held director and senior-level executive leadership positions with profit and loss responsibilities in leading global industries such as automotive tires and building material finishes.

Well versed at advising early-stage entrepreneurs and innovative high growth firms, Johnson founded his own consulting company, Averitas in 2009. Averitas helps small and medium-sized businesses grow. Before Averitas, Johnson was the founding CEO and executive director of an innovative healthcare-based workforce training program for adults and an arts-based education program for high school students.

Johnson is a certified Six Sigma Champion trainer and has earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Virginia Tech. He also has an executive master’s degree in business administration from Tulane University. Johnson serves on various Virginia and international boards and advisory committees, including: LEAD Virginia, AURP International Executive Committee, Primis Bank Advisory Board, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, Greater Peninsula Now Leadership Committee, Friends of Jefferson Lab and StartWheel.

(FTI). While at FTI, Akhbari was responsible for the strategic development and execution of operations for multiple business units supporting the federal sector with innovative technologies focused on decision and data analytics, engineering, logistics planning and analysis, and acquisition support.

Akhbari spent 13 years with Reston, Virginia, based NCI Information Systems Inc. in roles of increased operational responsibility culminating in his assignment as vice president for NCI’s Acquisition and Logistics Services group, one of four business units at the firm predominantly focused on Army Acquisition support activities. Akhbari started his career as a corporate pricing analyst with MTC Technologies.

With over 17 years of experience, he has successfully built and led large-scale private and public organizations by providing complex programmatic, acquisition, engineering, data analytics and logistics related solutions to the federal sector.

Akhbari received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Denison University and is a graduate of The Wharton School’s Executive Development Program. He is also a certified Project Management Professional and Lean Six Sigma certified Green Belt.