Joel S. Levanson, Colonel (R) US ARMY

Joel S. Levanson is presently, Vice President, International Programs, DRS Technologies Services, Inc. a Finmeccanica company. Finmeccanica, an International Italian Aerospace Defense Company acquired DRS Technologies in October 2008. He is responsible for all functions related to International Programs within this Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Interfaces with Ministry of Defense & Ministry of Interior organizations of many Southwestern Asia (SWA) and Eastern European Countries, NATO, as well as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the offices of the services cooperation agencies (AFSAC, USASAC & NIPO). Initiated and operates an office in Bucharest, Romania as well as representatives in Turkey & Egypt. Initiated & Responsible for the NATO Basic Ordering  Agreement (BOA), CECOM Security & Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) FMS Commercial Catalog & the Counter Narcotics Terrorism Program Office (CNTPO) contract.   

Previously he was also the Director of the International Division within the corporation’s Communications Line of Business (LOB) as well as the SBU’s Vice President of International Programs.  In this role of Director of the International Division, he was responsible for all facets of International C4I programs to include business development, customer relations, financial forecasts and contract execution and performance.

Prior to this position, Mr. Levanson was Vice President, International Programs for Engineered Support Systems Inc. (ESSI). With particular emphasis on the subsidiary TAMSCO, Inc. Mr. Levanson initiated and developed the company’s international programs, directing senior advisory duties, high level acquisition planning, negotiations and contacts with senior DOD officials. DRS Technologies acquired ESSI on 1 Feb 2006. 

Mr. Levanson joined TAMSCO in October 1993, as the Senior Advisor responsible for recommending, guiding and steering the diverse activities which complimented TAMSCO’s expertise in services and manufacturing.

He defined and improved the business development process and structured business development strategies to implement corporate goals. Mr. Levanson networked with industry counterparts in order to identify requirements then develop effective win strategies.  In addition, he monitored performance in these new contacts and ensured that the opportunities were maximized.
Mr. Levanson understands the DOD environment and has had extensive hands experience in the DOD acquisition process.

COLONEL (Retired) JOEL S. LEVANSON completed 30 years of
Service with the US ARMY in October 1993 serving in much high level Command and Acquisition positions. 

His position prior to retirement was the Commander of the US ARMY Contracting Command-Europe (USACCE). Mr. Levanson managed an international acquisition organization with over 850 multinational personnel and 22 contracting offices located throughout Central Europe.  He was responsible for executing an acquisition program comprised of over 250,000 contractual actions valued in excess of $2 Billion. The command’s contracting encompasses the acquisition of all supplies, services and equipment for the US forces based in Europe as well as NATO, and U.S. allies.

Previously he served as the Director & Deputy Director for Procurement as well as the Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (PARC) for the US Army Communications Electronics Command at FT. Monmouth, NJ. Managing this Government procurement office of over 1000 people, Mr. Levanson’s responsibility was to support all acquisition for Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) programs.  This consisted of over 20,000 procurement actions valued at over $4 Billion, and required coordinating activities of multiple departments to meet annual expenditure goals.

Other key assignments included the following:

Chief of the Communications Integration Branch, US ARMY Combined Arms Combat Development Activity, FT Leavenworth, KS.  Responsible for coordinating and monitoring all Army actions for all communications electronics equipment.

Commander of 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, FT Riley, KS. Managed all aspects of supply, maintenance, logistics, training, resource management and personnel management of a 575 person organization. Formulated necessary staff planning of all communications and electronic aspects of all proposed tactical operations of a 15,000 person division.  Successfully deployed over 600 soldiers and their equipment from FT Riley, KS by air, rail, ship, and road to and within Europe.

He has commanded units through the Platoon, Company, Battalion & Brigade level.  He has served in positions in communications, contracting, air defense and logistics. He has managed/coordinated Communications Electronics support for the Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) project, contracting officer at FT Monmouth, NJ. And Deputy Installation commander at Army’s Yuma Proving Ground.

Mr. Levanson holds a BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University, Boston, MA and Masters’ Degrees in both Contracts and Procurement from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL & Industrial Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, DC.

Mr. Levanson is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) with both the National Contract Management Association and the US ARMY Logistics Management Center. He is also a Senior Fellow in NCMA.

He is a member of the Association of the US ARMY (AUSA), as well as a Life Member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the US ARMY Signal Regiment. He and his wife Monika have two children and three grandchildren, and reside in Burke, VA.