Brent “Buddha” George, CAPT USN (retired) is the founder, President & CEO of Buddha George Consulting Inc. (BGCI). Brent completed a 25-year Navy career where he served as a major defense acquisition program manager, Source Selection Authority, and Fee Determining Official. Brent served in a wide breadth of aviation assignments to include carrier aviation, operational and developmental test and evaluation, and aircraft acquisition, production, and overhaul. During the latter part of his career, Brent served multiple tours in sensor, payload, and spacecraft design and acquisition at the National Reconnaissance Office. Brent has extensive experience in all facets of cutting edge technology development, portfolio, and systems acquisition management. He is a talented communicator, collaborator, and team builder with over 16-years of aviation experience and over 20-years experience driving the state of the art in space, airborne, and ground based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance systems. Brent is an expert in the acquisition, planning, design, development, engineering, test and evaluation, and operation of aircraft, spacecraft, complex sensor platforms, and associated ground systems. Following his Navy career, Brent founded BGCI, a National Security management and leadership consulting firm specializing in providing companies executive-level, uniquely qualified advice, insights, and guidance to inspire focused and innovative solutions for Intelligence Community & Department of Defense missions.
Brent began his Naval career by reporting to Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL, in October of 1989 and was commissioned as an Ensign in February 1990. Following completion of AOCS, he started Naval Flight Officer (NFO) undergraduate training and was designated as an NFO in March 1991. Brent next reported to training as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) with the EA-6B Prowler Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), Electronic Attack Squadron ONE TWO NINE (VAQ-129), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, WA, in July 1991.
Upon completion of FRS training and Fleet ECMO qualification in July 1992, Brent transferred to the Lancers of VAQ-131 where he made two Western Pacific/Indian Ocean/Arabian Gulf deployments aboard USS RANGER (CV 61) (RANGER’s Last Ride) and USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64), respectively. In May 1995, Brent was assigned to the Vampires of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9) at Naval Air Warfare Station (NAWS), China Lake, CA. As a Vampire, he served as an Operational Test Director (OTD) and flight crewmember responsible for the Operational Test (OT) and evaluation of EA-6B Prowler, FA-18D Hornet, and AH-1W Cobra systems, software, and weapons.
Brent was selected for U. S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) in December 1997. In July 1998, he reported to Class 115 at USNTPS, NAS Patuxent River, MD, and following his graduation from the USNTPS curriculum, he was designated an Engineering Test Flight Officer in June 1999. After completing USNTPS, Brent reported to the Salty Dogs of Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron (NSATS) (VX-23) in July 1999. At NSATS, he worked as the squadron’s Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) and on a variety of Developmental Test (DT) programs for the test and evaluation of EA-6B, FA-18D, and FA-18F systems, software, and weapons.
In June 2000, Brent was selected as an Airborne Systems Flight Test Instructor for the Testers of USNTPS where he instructed in the theory and principles of systems, software, and weapons testing for the Airborne Systems, Fixed Wing, and Rotary Wing curriculums. While with the Testers, he guest instructed for Empire Test Pilot School, Boscombe Downs, England; French Test Pilot School (EPNER), Istres, France; and U. S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA.
In November 2000, Brent was selected as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO). In October 2001, he reported to his first AEDO billet as the EA-6B Product Officer for the Pacesetters of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Jacksonville, FL. As the EA-6B Product Officer, Brent was responsible for the overhaul, maintenance, repair, and test flight of all EA-6B Prowler aircraft. In addition he was pivotal in the implementation of Lean/Six Sigma maintenance best practices throughout the EA-6B aircraft maintenance and production line.
Brent was transferred to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, VA in November 2004. At the NRO, he worked in the Special Technology Group of the Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate. Brent was serving as a Program Manager for highly-classified special access programs for the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) supporting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
Brent was selected for the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program (SDCFP) in Dec 2006. In June 2007, Brent reported as a Fellow to the intelligence solutions firm of Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc. and then to the information technology and professional services firm of CACI International, Inc., both based in Arlington, VA.
In August 2008, Brent reported to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office (JSFPO) in Arlington, VA. He served as the Director of Mission Systems and Software Integrated Product Team Lead within the Weapon System Directorate. He was responsible for the development of all aircraft weapon system software and mission hardware, to include: an advanced avionics suite, five aircraft sensors, computers, and mission planning systems.
Brent was transferred back to the SPAWAR Space Field Activity at the NRO in April 2011. He pinned on Captain (O-6) in September 2011. He served as the Director of the Advanced Systems Office in the Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate before his retirement in June 2014.
During his 25-year career, Brent completed two Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) deployments with 291 carrier arrested landings. He accumulated over 2400 flight hours in 69 different type/model/series aircraft. His awards included the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medal (2 Strike/Flight awards), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3 awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 awards), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal (silver E).
Brent earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, in May 1989; a Master of Science in Aviation Systems and flight research from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, in August 2000; and a Master of Business Administration in Aviation With Distinction (Summa Cum Laude) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL, in August 2005. He earned a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in July 2008.
Brent was a member of the Acquisition Corps and Space Cadre and was certified to DAWIA Level III in Program Management; Test and Evaluation Engineering; Manufacturing, Production, and Quality Assurance; and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering – Systems Engineering; and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering – Science and Technology Management.
Brent is married to the former Kelly Ann Whealan of Chicago, IL. Kelly is a PhD, Executive Director of Research Advancement, an Associate Professor in the Department of Arts & Sciences and Department Chair, Social Sciences & Economics with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, Daytona Beach, FL. They reside in South Riding, VA with their dog Sophie.