Gary B Hopper

Gary Hopper joined General Atomics in 2003 as Vice President of the Washington D.C. Operations. He focuses on executive and legislative issues as they pertain to the research and development, manufacturing, marketing, and export of defense, homeland security, and transportation systems for military and commercial customers worldwide. He has over two decades of hands-on government and industry experience in complex defense procurement and research and development systems, including systems engineering, configuration management, quality assurance, and marketing. He offers an impressive array of leadership skills, from advising high ranking dignitaries to commanding a 140-man aviation unit. From 1998 until 2003, Mr. Hopper served as Vice President of the Washington D.C. office of FLIR Systems, Inc. He focused on executive and legislative issues as they pertained to the manufacturing, marketing, and export of thermal imaging and broadcast imaging systems for military and commercial customers worldwide . Prior to joining FLIR Systems, he served as Director of the Washington D.C. office of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and supported the company’s unmanned aircraft programs for the Air Force Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program and other worldwide military and commercial customers. Following a fourteen year active duty military career, Mr. Hopper joined The PMA Group in 1994. As an Associate, he annually obtained RDT&E and Procurement funding exceeding $60 million for selected high priority defense aerospace and emerging technology programs. Mr. Hopper’s military career includes command of U.S. Army aviation units and numerous staff assignments and cumulated with his assignment as a Reservist in Office of Policy and Liaison, Chief of the Army Reserves for U.S. Army Reserve legislative liaison matters in 2004. As a pilot with over 1500 flying hours, he has considerable experience in rotary wing operations and night vision systems. Applying his in-depth knowledge of operations and logistics, he defined and implemented a new global support system for a worldwide rapid deployment of aviation and support forces. Mr. Hopper established a close working relationship with industry in developing and implementing a multi-million dollar aircraft refurbishment program and placing contracts for additional specialized aircraft. He maintains current technical expertise and contracts through membership in the American Helicopter Society, the Army Aviation Association of America, National Defense Industry Association, and is President of the 16,000 person National Capital Region Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. He graduated with honors with a M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Denver, and earned a B.S. in Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point. less