Chief Growth Officer, Brilliant Corporation Randy “RJ” Kolton is Chief Growth Officer (CGO) for Brillient Corporation, for which he oversees planning and implementation of the corporate growth strategy; all aspects of the business development (BD) lifecycle, which includes account, pursuit, and capture of business opportunities and proposal development; new product and service development; and merger and acquisition (M&A) activities.
He brings to Brillient 22 years’ experience as a senior business development and operational executive supporting defense, federal, and intelligence community customers and 22 years’ experience as a military professional, retiring as a US Army lieutenant colonel with service as an infantryman and military strategist. Prior to assuming his current position, RJ was Senior Vice President (SVP) BD for Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc., a Woman-Owned Small Business that delivers data-driven information technology (IT), research, and analytics solutions to 4 government clients, for which he led the BD Department, developed and implemented corporate strategic and business plans, and oversaw the BD lifecycle.
Previous to that role, RJ was President & Principal for Kolt Business Solutions LLC, a consultancy that assisted defense and federal contractors to enhance their strategic and operational planning activities and BD operations. From May 2013 through October 2019, he was SVP BD for Data Systems Analysts, Inc., for which he led the BD Department, developed and implemented corporate strategic and business plans, and oversaw the BD lifecycle, and was instrumental in increasing the company’s revenue by 140% and employees by nearly 200%. From 2010-2013, he was SVP Strategy and Corporate Development for Ideal Innovations Incorporated, for which he developed and implemented strategic and business plans and served as program manager for various programs assigned to him by the CEO, From 2005-2010, RJ was SVP BD for the $4.3B L-3 Communications Services Group, for which he planned and managed the group’s BD operations, developed and implemented corporate strategic and business plans, oversaw the BD lifecycle, and coordinated Group M&A activities. From 1998-2009, RJ was concurrently SVP BD for MPRI, a division of L-3Communications since 2000, with CY10 revenue of $1.2B, for which, he planned and managed MPRI’s growth strategies, oversaw all aspects of BD operations and the BD lifecycle, and served in a Profit & Loss (P&L) role, managing special projects and programs assigned to him by the President, MPRI.
As a career Army officer, he served in various command and staff positions in the White House, US Central Command, Department of the Army, and the 82d Airborne and 3d Infantry Divisions. During 1997-1998, he served as Special Assistant, Strategy in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He was Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives to the Unified Commander, U.S. Central Command (1994-1997) and Special Assistant and Speechwriter to the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (1993-1994). RJ served as the G-5 (Political-Military Officer) for the 82d Airborne Division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-1991). During 1985-1988, he was an Assistant Professor of History at the U.S. Military Academy.
He received his BS from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in 1976, an MA in History from the University of Texas, Austin, Texas in 1985 and an MMAS in Strategy from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas in 1990. RJ also serves as Vice President and member of the Board of Directors for Mid-Tier Advocacy (MTA), Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes the interests of mid-tier government contractors. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Board for the George Mason University College of Education and Human Development.