Executive Team
Michael Gray
CEO
Mr. Gray founded Global Relief Technologies in the spring of 2003.
Previously to GRT, Mr. Gray has over 20 years of extensive, high-level experience working for the US Federal government, the US military and other international interests. Most recently, from 2001 to 2003, he served as a US State Department advisor to US Central Command and General Tommy Franks in regards to humanitarian and reconstruction operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Previous to that position, Mr. Gray worked as a US State Department Refugee Coordination Officer in the Balkans; a US Naval Reserve officer, serving on the policy and planning staff of Sir Lt. General Michael Jackson in Kosovo; and as a Naval Reserve officer on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.
Mr. Gray also has extensive experience working in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He was Program Director of the US Department of Justice’s Anti-Organized Crime Assistance Program for Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, as well as an Associate Director of the American Bar Association’s Central and East European Law Initiative. Mr. Gray also implemented the ABA’s and the US State Department’s rule of law and criminal justice assistance to the countries of the former Soviet Union, living and working in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Central Asia from 1992 to 1995.
Richard Gustafson
President and COO
Mr. Gustafson joined GRT in August 2007. An experienced software executive with a demonstrated record of success in commercializing software products used in field operations, Mr. Gustafson served for seven years as President and CEO of Eoscene Corporation, a Seattle based provider of business intelligence and compliance software as a service for the healthcare industry. As co-founder, he played a key role in Eoscene’s growth and business achievements, including being named one of the “500 Fastest Growing Private US Companies” in 2005 by Inc. Magazine and a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Pacific Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year.
Michael Hartnett
Vice President, Marketing and Customer Deployments
Mr. Hartnett jointed GRT in March 2008. A seasoned marketing executive, he has extensive experience developing and deploying technology solutions to both domestic and international customers. At London-based Orange SA, a global communications leader, he coordinated product rollouts and served as a company spokesperson as part of the Global Brand and Strategy Group. He served as Director of Business Planning and Market Development at Wildfire Communications Inc., a venture capital backed software company. Mr. Hartnett has worked internationally to leverage technology to address international security challenges with both private and public sector organizations including the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe, the Jebsen Center for Counterterrorism Studies and the National Defense University. He served as a Marine infantry officer during which time he led and participated in both domestic disaster relief operations and international humanitarian assistance missions. Mr. Hartnett is currently a doctoral candidate at the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy researching and writing on the evolving role of the private sector and technology on international security issues.
Chip Peter
Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Peter has been instrumental in managing and building the technology to fulfill the mission of GRT. In fact, he oversaw the design and construction of the GRT operations center. He also managed the GRT software development process from early prototype through the full development life cycle.
Mr. Peter has over 12 years of experience in the telecommunications and software industry. His responsibilities have included advanced technology assessment, infrastructure capital planning, and technology trials. Prior to joining GRT, Mr. Peter was a Director with Vodafone.
Brendan Kearney
Vice President, Civil-Military Programs.
Col. Kearney joined GRT in August 2007. His primary responsibility includes developing civil-military business initiatives. Col. Kearney is a retired US Marine Corps colonel with a distinguished service record and extensive institutional knowledge and contacts related to GRT’s core customers. Prior to joining GRT, Col. Kearney was Chief of Staff, U. S. Marine Forces, Europe, Stuttgart, Germany, from 2003 until his retirement in 2006. An Infantry Officer and an International Political-Military Affairs Specialist, Col. Kearney also held numerous distinguished posts within the Marine Corps, including Chief of Staff, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, Commanding Officer, 4th Marine Regiment, Okinawa Japan, and Head, Unified Command & International Issues Branch at Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Mark Jadowski
Vice President of GIS Research and Development
Dr. Jadkowski joined GRT in January 2008, having most recently served as Vice President at Maptech Inc., where he is responsible for development of new products and services.
Dr. Jadkowski started his career in mapping and GIS in 1986 at James W. Sewall Company in Maine. At Sewall he established and managed the GIS Services Division which grew from two to 65 people over a period of four years. This Division became the largest and most profitable segment of the Company’s business.
In 1995, Dr. Jadkowski helped to establish BSB Electronic Charts, LLP, which succeeded in becoming a dominant electronic nautical chart CD-ROM publisher in the United States (sold by over 700 marine retailers / supported by over 100 marine navigation system OEMs). He was the President and CEO of this start-up until it was acquired by Maptech in 1997.
During his 15 year career in digital cartography, geographic information systems, and remote sensing, Dr. Jadkowski has managed dozens of major projects, as well as four separate R&D initiatives which were based on CRADAs or other cooperative agreements with federal agencies. All four initiatives resulted in successful commercial products or services.
Dr. Jadkowski earned his Ph.D. degree in Engineering and M.S. degree in Applied Mathematics from Utah State University.
Michelle Richards
Finance Manager
Before joining GRT on a full-time basis in January 2008, Ms. Richards was a part-time consultant for GRT from May, 2006 until December, 2007. Ms. Richards has over 10 years of experience in the public accounting field. Previous to joining GRT, she served as Financial Controller of a start-up computer hardware and software consulting firm for four years. Ms. Richards is a certified public accountant and is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.