Board of Directors

David R. Shedd

Chairman of the Board

David R. Shedd is Chairman of Draper’s Board of Directors. He became Chairman in 2018, having joined the Board in 2015. David brings more than 30 years of experience serving the U.S. government in a wide variety of national security and intelligence positions.

He served in a variety of intelligence community (IC) leadership positions, including Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Chief of Staff for the Director of National Intelligence and Senior Director for Intelligence and Intelligence Reform at the White House.

David also brings experience from postings in senior management positions at the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council and the U.S. embassies in Costa Rica and Mexico. 

Among his many recognitions, David received the Director of National Intelligence’s National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and Personal Medallion for IC Leadership; The Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award and the Under Secretary of Defense Intelligence’s Medallion for Service; the Directors of the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Service Medals and Medallions for Excellence; and The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal.

Since leaving the federal government in February 2015, David has served as an Adjunct Professor, teaching the relationship between intelligence and national security at Patrick Henry College. He is an independent national security consultant and serves on several public and not-for-profit corporate boards.

He holds a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Geneva College.

Jerry Wohletz

President and CEO

Jerry M. Wohletz, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed to his current position in June 2022.

Jerry has more than 22 years of experience in leadership within the defense industry. His broad executive management experience spans electronic warfare, advanced technologies, start-ups, defense applications and research.

Before joining Draper, Jerry held a variety of senior executive roles at BAE Systems, including Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Combat Solutions – electronic warfare industry leader with products installed on 80 percent of U.S. military fighters – as well as Vice President and General Manager of FAST LabsTM, the advanced technologies organization that underpins the products and services for BAE Systems, Inc.

Prior to BAE Systems, Jerry was a Director at ALPHATECH Inc., a start-up spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) acquired by BAE Systems. There he pioneered autonomy for defense applications that led to the development of the Multi-vehicle Mission Control System product. Before that, he was a Research Scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory and at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. Jerry began his career as an Aeronautics Engineer with McDonnell Douglas working on the F/A-18E/F aircraft design.

Jerry holds a B.S. degree with highest distinction in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas; an M.S. in engineering focused on aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, and a Ph.D. in estimation and control, also from MIT.

While at BAE Systems, he received its highest award for his leadership in reversing the EC-130H cancellation and vision for the new EC-37B weapon system. Jerry also has been recognized for his contributions to our nation’s defense and was selected on the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.

David B. Aronoff

David B. Aronoff joined Draper’s Board of Directors in 2015. He is Executive Chairman of MCJ Collective, which is focused on climate technology startups. David’s experience includes two decades as a General Partner at venture capital firms investing in early-stage entities in infrastructure, software as a service, Internet of Things and cybersecurity. 

Since 2020, he has been a Partner Emeritus at Flybridge Capital Partners, an early-stage investment firm, where he was a General Partner from 2005 to 2020. David was formerly a General Partner at Greylock Partners from 1996 to 2005.

Previously he worked as a software architect and engineering manager at Chipcom Corp., and he was a member of technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

David currently serves on the boards of several technology companies. A Trustee Emeritus of The University of Vermont, he serves on UVM’s Foundation Leadership Council and School of Business Advisory Board. He also serves on New York University’s Innovation Venture Fund Information Technology Advisory Board.

David holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Vermont, cum laude and with college honors; a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Southern California; and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Terry J. Benedict

Vice Admiral Terry Benedict, U.S. Navy (retired), joined Draper’s Board in 2018, after concluding his military career. He has been Executive Vice President for Naval, Nuclear, and Critical Infrastructure Programs at Systems Planning and Analysis since 2022. Previously Terry was Chief Operating Officer of Blue Origin and Operations Manager for the Nuclear Security and Operations Group at Bechtel National. 

Throughout his 30 years of service with the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs, Terry held 10 different positions, ultimately serving as Director for 8 years (2010-2018). Before assuming command of Strategic Systems Programs, he also served as Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

A 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Terry began his naval career as a Surface Warfare Officer, eventually transferring to the Engineering Duty Officer community. He holds a master’s degree in engineering science from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. In addition, he is a graduate of the Advanced Program Management course at the Defense Acquisition University, the Executive Leadership Course at Carnegie Mellon, and is a certified Project Management Professional. 

Terry is a member of the U.S. Strategic Command Senior Advisory Group, Stockpile Assessment Team. He serves on the Board of Regents of the Strategic Deterrent Coalition.

Cynthia Collins

Cynthia (Cindy) Collins has been a Draper Board member since 2021. She is the Principal of Cynthia Collins & Associates. Cindy has extensive experience leading healthcare firms as President and/or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) across more than four decades.

She served as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Editas Medicine, Inc., from February 2019 to February 2021. Previously, Cindy was CEO of Human Longevity Inc.; CEO/General Manager of General Electric’s Healthcare Cell Therapy Business, Lab Businesses and Clarient Diagnostics; and CEO of GenVec. 

Earlier in her career, Cindy served as Group Vice President, Cellular Analysis Business of Beckman Coulter, now Danaher. Before that, she was President and CEO of Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; President of Clinical Micro Sensors for Motorola; and President of Oncology and Vice President of Strategy and Portfolio Management of BioScience for Baxter Healthcare.

She is currently a member of the boards of Poseida Therapeutics, DermTech, Certara; Panavance Therapeutics, Nutcracker Therapeutics, and Alanis Therapeutics.

She received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Amr A. ElSawy

Amr ElSawy joined Draper’s Board of Directors in 2022. He is currently President and CEO of ElSawy Enterprises, LLC and serves as an advisor to private equity firms. Amr has extensive experience leading technology organizations and developing innovative solutions to complex challenges facing public sector enterprises in defense, intelligence, aerospace, and transportation.

He served as the President and CEO of Noblis from October 2007 to October 2022. In that position he was responsible for the general management and strategic direction of the organization’s overall scientific, technical, financial and administrative activities. Amr was elected to the Noblis Board of Trustees in 2007 and continues to serve in that role.

His experience ranges across research and development, complex engineering of information and telecommunications systems, modeling and simulation, enterprise transformation using cloud and high-performance computing, program management and acquisition of large-scale systems. He has earned an international reputation for expertise in aviation, informing domestic and international aviation policy.

Prior to joining Noblis, Amr was a Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development of The MITRE Corporation. He served for seven years as the Director of the Federally Funded Research and Development Center for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Amr also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the George Washington University and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the performing arts.

Amr holds an MBA from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from West Virginia University.

Francis H. Kearney III

Frank Kearney, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, has been a member of Draper’s Board of Directors since 2015. In 2020 he served as Draper’s interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Currently, Frank is the President of Inside-Solutions-LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on leadership development. He is an advisory board member and faculty member of Thayer Leader Development Group.

After more than 35 years of service, Frank retired from the U.S. Army in 2012. His active-duty military career culminated in his position as Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counter-Terrorism Center. In that role, Frank worked with 16-29 cabinet-level agencies to plan and coordinate the whole-of-government efforts to achieve the counter-terrorism goals of the administration.

Previously, as the Deputy Combatant Commander for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) from 2007 to 2010, Frank oversaw the SOCOM requirements process and a $10 billion budget, and he led the SOCOM Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) team for the 2010 QDR. During this period, Frank also was a member of the Department of Defense Ballistic Missile Defense Review Committee and the Deputy Secretary of Defense’s Advisory Working Group managing the department’s annual budget approval and execution.

Frank’s military career encompassed operational and command assignments at every level, including combat tours in multiple theaters.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Frank has a master’s degree in education from the University of South Carolina.

Scott W. MacKay

Scott W. MacKay became a Draper Board member in 2022. His legal experience includes a wide variety of corporate, civil government, and military roles. A solo practitioner since 2015, he provides pro bono legal services for veterans before the military correction boards, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Federal courts. 

Scott was the Vice President and General Counsel of Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions from 2010 to 2015. Previously, he was the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Scott joined Lockheed Martin in 1995, and was responsible for managing and conducting corporate litigation, including criminal and civil fraud matters, coordinating the Corporation's response to government investigations and requests for information, conducting internal investigations, and other compliance issues. 

From 1988 to 1995, as a Senior Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Fraud Section, he investigated and prosecuted procurement fraud cases, as well as cases involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, perjury before a grand jury, public corruption, and fraud relating to classified contracts. A U.S. Army line officer from 1976 to 1981, Scott joined the Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps in 1981, handling a variety of legal duties including prosecuting and defending soldiers at courts-martial, prosecuting misdemeanors as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and serving as a legal advisor in the Office of the Secretary of the Army. 

Scott received his bachelor of science degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his Juris Doctor degree from the Boston University School of Law.

His pro bono work has been recognized with the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal and the Department of the Army Commander’s Award.

Betty J. Sapp

Betty Sapp joined Draper’s Board of Directors in 2019 following her retirement as Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (DNRO). She brings decades of leadership and financial management experience in the intelligence community and the U.S. Air Force to Draper’s Board.

After joining the Central Intelligence Agency in 1997, Betty was assigned to the NRO, serving in senior management positions. In 2005, she became the Deputy Director, NRO, for Business Plans and Operations. As Principal Deputy Director, NRO (2009-2012), she provided overall day-to-day management of the NRO. Betty was appointed DNRO in 2012, leading the NRO for seven years. 

As the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Portfolio, Programs and Resources), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (2007 to 2009), Betty provided executive oversight of the multibillion-dollar portfolio of defense intelligence-related acquisition programs; the planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the multibillion-dollar Military Intelligence Program; and the technology efforts for current and future warfighter needs.

As a U.S. Air Force officer (1979-1997), Betty held acquisition and financial management positions, including business management positions in the NRO; Program Element Monitor at the Pentagon for the MILSTAR system; Program Manager for the Fleet Satellite Communications System program at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles; and manager of a joint-service development effort for the A-10 engine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Betty holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Missouri, Columbia. 

Her awards include the Presidential Rank Award, National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service.

Wanda A. Sigur

A member of Draper’s Corporation since 2019, Wanda A. Sigur joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She capped a nearly 40-year career with Lockheed Martin Space (LMSpace) in 2017, retiring as Vice President and General Manager, Civil Space. Currently, she is an independent consultant for emerging space exploration and traditional aerospace industry companies through Lambent Engineering LLC, which she founded and leads as President.

As Vice President and General Manager of Civil Space at LMSpace, Wanda had executive responsibility for national space programs relating to human space flight and space science missions, including planetary, solar, astrophysical, and Earth remote sensing for civil government agencies. Her previous role at LMSpace was Vice President of Engineering, with engineers assigned to civil, military, classified, commercial space and strategic missile systems programs. Wanda began her career at LMSpace as a Materials Engineer in 1979. From Group Lead, she advanced at the company to Vice President in 2005, the first of four Vice President roles she would hold at LMSpace.

Wanda is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology.  Wanda is a member of the National Academies Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and is a member of the IAA’s Space Technology & System Development Commission.

Wanda graduated from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering and holds an MBA from Tulane University.

Barbara N. Stevens

Barbara N. Stevens joined Draper’s Corporation in 2020 and its Board of Directors in 2021. Since concluding a 35-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 2020, she served as CEO of Exovera before founding her own company, Nelson Analytic Consulting, LLC.

During her CIA career, Barbara built and then directed complex data science programs. As an executive-level leader in the CIA, Barbara’s leadership was multifaceted. She drove application of data analysis and cloud computing to modernize technology infrastructure. She led transformations of units of the CIA and led change at the organizational level. This included developing training for management and delivering executive training. Her awards from the CIA include The Director of Central Intelligence Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, and the CIA Excellence in Mentoring Award.

Barbara is a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a member of the Advisory Board for the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a member of the Proxy Board of Directors of Hexagon U.S. Federal, a member of the board of Moneycorp NA, and an advisor at several other companies. She is a Certified Director through the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Passionate about mentoring young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Barbara works with Spookstock Foundation, dedicated to helping the children of fallen Intelligence Community officers.

Barbara earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the Florida State University in mathematical statistics. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Florida. She served on the faculty of the University of Georgia in the Department of Statistics and Computer Science (1983-1985) before joining the CIA.

D. Richard Williams

D. Richard Williams joined Draper’s Board of Directors in 2017. He has served as Non-executive Chairman of Primerica’s Board of Directors since 2015, after concluding his role as Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Primerica.

Richard has spent most of his financial services career as a leader of Primerica. Prior to becoming Chairman and Co-CEO in 2010 following the company’s initial public offering, he served as Co-CEO, beginning in 1999. He was Chief Financial Officer from 1988 to 1999 and Chief Operating Officer from 1997 to 1999. Previously he held three roles as President of company units:  Primerica Life Insurance Company, Primerica Canada and PFS Investments.

Prior to joining the company, he held managerial and executive roles focused on mergers and acquisitions.

Richard serves on the Board of Directors of Crawford & Company, as well as on the governing bodies of several philanthropic organizations.

He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.