Board of Directors
Fred T. Arnold, Ph.D., CEO
See full bio on the Management Team page
Billy J. Bingham, Chairman
Brigadier General (ret) Billy J. Bingham has nearly 40 years of experience in the US and International Intelligence and Defense communities covering all phases of Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) operations. Prior to joining Precipia, Mr. Bingham served as the Assistant Deputy Director of Operations at the National Security Agency, and the J2 commander at PACOM. In addition to his time working in the public sector, he served as the Senior VP for Corporate Development at SAIC, and continues to serve as the President and COO of Red Arch Solutions (formerly Wells Landers, Inc.). His experience includes the planning, programming, budgeting, and development processes of C4ISR equipment, the implementation of systems architecture, the application of intelligence in strategic and tactical planning, warning, and military operations, and the study of information assurance.
Steve Friedman, Board Member
Steve Friedman is Managing Director of NC Ventures (www.nationalcapital.com), a venture-stage investment banking group based in Bethesda, MD. In addition to his role at NCV, Mr. Friedman manages Ultraseed Capital LLC, a Virginia-based investment firm specializing in early-stage companies. In this capacity, Mr. Friedman funds initial operations and takes board positions to oversee the structuring, positioning and management of startup companies and venture turnaround opportunities, particularly in the areas of information technology, telecommunications, security technology and services, alternative energy and clean technology. Mr. Friedman has over a decade of venture capital experience, including management of an internet-startup incubator and a seed-stage venture investment fund.
Prior to his role as a venture capitalist and VC banker, Mr. Friedman was a serial entrepreneur in the high-tech space. His first venture, in 1994, was as cofounder of digiTRADE, which created the first technology platform to allow internet stock trading; the company was sold 3 years later to Thomson Financial.Mr. Friedman received a B.A. from The University of Virginia, with an interdisciplinary focus in Theoretical Neuroscience.
Robert Porter, Board Member
Robert Porter has extensive experience in the Intelligence and Defense communities of the US government and is considered an expert in the merging and developing of geo-technology to support commercial operations. Early in his career, Mr. Porter served as an officer in the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Later, he held a range of roles in the CIA, including Staff Officer, and at NASA where he worked before ending his government career. Mr. Porter is founder of Earth Satellite Corporation (EarthSat), the world leader in interpreting space imagery for crop forecasting, mapping and oil exploration, and classified program activities. Mr. Porter has written eight books, including two novels.
Mr. Porter received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and his Master's degree in Geochemistry from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Porter is a native of Oklahoma and is the proud father of two daughters and grandfather to three grandchildren. Mr. Porter now resides permanently in Washington, DC.
Samuel A. Stern, Board Member
Samuel A. Stern is a partner with the law firm of Hills Stern & Morley. Mr. Stern has served as counsel or advisor to the governments of over 40 countries and has extensive experience with all international, regional and US lending institutions and with major commercial and investment banks in connection with both private and public sector projects. Mr. Stern also serves as director of closely held companies, including a group of companies operating in China, an Indian company that provides internet legal research services, and several US high-tech enterprises. He assists companies in arranging investment, joint venture, distribution and licensing agreements, particularly in emerging economy countries and seeks to facilitate identifying and structuring such opportunities.
Jin Zhu, Board Member
Jin Zhu served as the Director of Information Strategy at The Arlington Institute (TAI) from July 2002 to July 2005 Prior to joining TAI, Mr. Zhu worked for Calico Commerce Inc., a publicly traded Internet software company later bought by PeopleSoft, as Senior System Engineer where he was responsible for consultative sales and business development efforts to Fortune 500 companies. Prior to this, Mr. Zhu co-founded several ventures, including 24-7 Computer Services LLC and Triumph Investments, LLC and he has served as CTO and board member of several DotCom startups.
Mr. Zhu holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Masters Degree in Finance from George Washington University.