While working on General Dynamics Electric Boat, I managed new, experimental projects. These were ideas that’s the navy had and the research laboratories and other companies helped move forward. I was the lead who brought everyone together. I was the one who brought all the companies, the ideas from the research laboratory, and the government together. I managed the budget, schedule, verification testing and made sure everyone was communicating. I reported to the government how much was spent each quarter and fiscal year and how much was needed for the next fiscal year (for each quarter). I also outlined all the work that would be done by all parties involved with said outlined money.

When I first started, I was given a budget and a name of a project. No one in my company knew what it was. The only person who knew what it was a PhD who came up with the idea in a national research laboratory. I found this person. He explained the idea. I had to tell him what regulations and testing had to be met to get this technology on a submarine and actually plan out the project from the ground up including development.

The initial budget given did not meet the need for the first year. It was just a random number that the PhD told the government and that is what was given. Management asked me why more was not being done on the project and I explained that I did not have the money to move forward yet but would have it when the next fiscal year started (that’s the earliest the gov could get it to me). The project was placed on hold until then.

Not knowing the budget or asking for a budget without even attempting to relate it to a schedule or actions needed, wastes time. The project could have been a lot further and finished a lot faster.