Leadership

Tania Garavito

As Chief Operations Officer of Joint Technology Solution, Inc., Tania oversees all corporate operations, which includes human resources, business development, project management, accounting, contracts, and marketing. Her diverse experience allows her to effectively guide and direct capture management, client relationships, corporate expenditures, among other corporate activities.

Tania holds a BS in Business Administration from Mars Hill University, with a concentration in Organizational Communications.

Verl Miller

Verl brings over 35 years of experience from the Army National Guard in both intelligence and combat arms at the company to brigade level to Joint Technology Solutions. His relationship-building skills, leadership, and executive program management background have developed his skills in organizational process improvements, quality service to clients, and proactive problem solutions. As Oregon’s Recruiting Commander he expanded recruitment into the island of American Samoa, established a national Path to Citizen program, and secured passage of 100% State Tuition for all Soldiers and Airmen.

Verl holds a BS in Business Administration and a Master’s in Education from Eastern Oregon University as well as a Master’s in Strategic Studies where he graduated with honors from US Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

Samantha Valdivia

Samantha is responsible for the benefits administration, performance management, acquisition support, recruiting, professional development, and compliance of all JTS team members. She ensures that every employee utilizes their skills and capabilities to excel and develop into their role. She strives to lead in attracting and retaining JTS’ workforce and implementing core values into their everyday work.

Samantha has worked in Human Resources for nearly 10 years. She is actively part of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and continuing education by actively pursuing a Human Resources Management Certificate at George Mason University.

Jon Valdizan

As JTS Capture Manager, Jon is responsible for developing and understanding of potential opportunities, creating strategies, identifying resources, and assisting the Business Development team. This comes from Jon’s understanding of marketing, corporate strategy, proposal development, and project management. He works closely with proposal management by ensuring a proper transition to the proposal writing team.

Jon also is currently serving in the Virginia Army National Guard as an Infantry Squad Leader. He served two years in the G1 as a program analyst assisting the Guard Incentive Management System. He deployed overseas in support of CENTCOM operations and currently holds a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management.

Richard Y. Newton, III

Dick culminated a distinguished 34-year military career as a Lt General and the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, US Air Force in Washington DC.  A 1978 graduate of the USAF Academy, he has over twenty years of successful senior executive leadership in corporate board director positions, business management, leadership development, human capital, aerospace, and defense operations, in addition to overseeing the US Air Force nearly 670K person enterprise.

Dick is currently a Director, Victory Capital Management, Inc., United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Mutual Fund Board of Trustees, Vice Chairman of the privately held PredaSAR Corporation, and a member of the Israel Aerospace Industries, North America Strategic Advisory Board, among others.  He previously served as Chairman of the Board of the $10B for-profit Army and Air Force Exchange Service retail global store chain.

Dick is highly experienced in the broader US business community as well as interacting with the White House, Members of Congress, Department of Defense leaders, and the national media. Dick is a frequent national security guest commentator on the Fox News Channel.

He and his wife Jody have been married over forty years and now reside in Jupiter, Florida.  They have two grown married daughters and to date are blessed with three grandchildren.

Michael Garavito

As Director of Contracts and Finance, Michael oversees contract and compliance operations of federal, state, and local contracts, subcontracts, GSA schedule purchases, and commercial contracts. He has years of experience working with large and small government contractors in the areas of contracts, program control, and finance.

Prior to joining JTS, Michael served as a Contracts Manager with a recently graduated Small Business where he oversaw the Contract compliance as well as all Subcontractors under awarded contracts.

Michael received a BS in Business Management from Radford University.

Keith Thurgood, Ph.D.

Dr. Thurgood brings a unique perspective on healthcare, operations management and leadership having served at senior-level leadership positions in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.  Most recently Dr. Thurgood was President, Spend and Clinical Management, MedAssets, a healthcare performance improvement company. He also served as President and CEO of Overseas Military Sales Corporation and as the Senior Vice President of Operations for Sam’s Club. He also served as the CEO of The Exchange (formerly the Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the United States Department of Defense’s $10 billion global for-profit retail enterprise. In addition to his civilian job, he has over 28 years of Army service, both active and reserve. Major General Thurgood served as the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, United States Army Reserve in Washington, D.C.  His last assignment prior to his retirement was the Deputy, Business Transformation, Office of the Secretary of the Army.

Dr. Thurgood holds a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University, an MS in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, an MS in Business Administration from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from Capella University. He is a frequent nationally recognized speaker on leadership and operations management.

Dr. Thurgood serves on numerous not-for-profit boards and is an executive board member of the Boy Scouts of America (Dallas, Texas).

Edward (Ed) Bonner

A trained and certified ISO internal auditor, Ed has been working in the quality and compliance field for 16 years. Prior to JTS, Ed served for 26 years in the United States Army and worked as a contracted program manager for a national level Department of Defense program.

Ed currently holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with his sights set on a Leadership Ph.D. program in August 2021. Ed was also the point person for JTS’ transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015.

Ed enjoys golfing and anything outdoors – especially water sports.

Cynthia Vande Linde

With over ten years of experience in supporting fast-paced and often complex corporate initiatives and a track record of strong performance in high-pressure environments, Cynthia manages administrative duties and client relations for her colleagues at Joint Technology Solution, Inc.

As Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Cynthia maintains office operations and procedures; controls and disseminates correspondence, reviews and approves supply requisitions.