Justin Quinn Olmstead

Dr. Justin Quinn Olmstead is a historian for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He previously served as Associate Professor of History at the University of Central Oklahoma. He has written multiple books including Reconsidering Peace and Patriotism during the First World War, Britain in the Islamic World: Imperial and Post-Imperial Connections and The United States’ Entry into the First World War: The Role of British and German Diplomacy.

He is a Senior Fellow at the Armed Services Institute in the Center for Military Life at Thomas University and a Visiting Fellow at the Center for Trust, Peace & Social Relations at Coventry University in the United Kingdom. Dr. Olmstead earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield, England, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Ron Poussard is President of Applied Federal Contract Associates, LLC, dynamically leading a small business that provides strategic consulting and expert guidance to both the private sector and government agencies.  He is a recognized expert in federal acquisition who derives practical and innovative solutions to complex acquisition matters.  A seasoned DoD executive, Ron has unique experience and broad perspectives developed while resolving strategic challenges involving multi-billion-dollar major weapon system acquisitions, critical service contracts, and related acquisition and contracting policy.  He is an excellent change agent sought-after for senior-leader advice involving federal business development, proposal and contract strategies, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), and winning small business policy implementation. 

Mr. Poussard served as the Senior Executive Service (SES)-level Director of Contract and Grants Policy for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  He led policy development and oversight, including contract pricing and incentive strategies, and should-cost analysis techniques and major program peer reviews.  

As a senior leader, Ron also held multiple Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense positions including the Director of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Should Cost Review, Air Force Director of Small Business Programs, Air Force Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Combat and Mission Support Services, and Deputy Director of Defense Procurement.   

Ron has held contracting officer warrants and has graduate degrees from Georgetown University and the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces (in residence).  He is a graduate of Northeastern University.