About Us
Blue Sky Innovators supports government and commercial customers in the definition and delivery of advanced technologies to solve the toughest challenges. Our mission is to bring “Insight to Operations” by bringing technological and operational insight to every aspect of our clients’ mission.
Blue Sky Innovators’ Core Values
Credibility
We are reputable experts who continuously learn and illuminate the way.
Determination
We bring true grit and a lunch pail mentality so our customers always win.
Independence
We are comfortable being alone and unafraid, uninhibited by risk.
Our Team
HIRE THE BEST AND TAKE CARE OF THEM
50%
of Employees are Military Veterans
70%
Employees with STEM and Advanced Degrees
95%
Employees TS/SCI Cleared
TEAM
Our Leadership Team
Tim Tkacz is the founder and CEO of Blue Sky Innovators, a company at the forefront of defense technology innovation. With over two decades of experience in cyber warfare, maritime, and C4ISR technologies, Tim has played a pivotal role in developing and transitioning cutting-edge capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
Throughout his career, Tim has contributed to numerous advanced defense programs, including work with DARPA, the U.S. Navy, and the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. His expertise spans from tactical airborne communications to unmanned systems and cyber physical systems.
At Blue Sky Innovators, Tim leads a team of 30 professionals, focusing on AI/ML and RF-related internal research and development efforts. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively, as well as an M.S. in Finance from George Washington University.
Hoss brings 25 years GovCon experience, including 17+ years with managerial and business development roles, maintaining relationships with DoW/DHS/Intel Government, prime, and sub account representatives. His unique technical and programmatic understanding of a wide variety of sensors/weapons/platforms empowers him to nurture and leverage company capabilities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber, space, and electronic warfare technologies. He was Named a Washington Executive “DoW Top Executive to Watch in 2023” and has won hundreds of millions of dollars of competitive technology contracts and led numerous strategic Merger & Acquisition activities.
Hoss received a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1999, a Master of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Maryland in 2003, and a Master of Business Administration from the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business in 2006. He is a doting father of two wonderful teenagers and is also a long-suffering Philly sports fan, so please be patient with him if he seems constantly frazzled.
Jessica Bradshaw brings over 14 years HR, recruiting and project management experience including support to OUSD(R&E), DARPA, Navy, Air Force and SPACECOM. As the first HR hire for Blue Sky, she has implemented HR initiatives and streamlined processes to facilitate company growth and increase employee engagement. Jess also has a background in sport and event management and continues to work occasionally for the Boston Red Sox. She has a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Communications from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Education After-Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Calgary. In her spare time she likes to run, travel and spend time with her husband and two boys.
Scar has 20+ years of experience supporting space and cyber programs across the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. He specializes in driving transformative initiatives that enhance operational capabilities and foster collaboration between technology and strategy. With a proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, Scott excels in identifying emerging trends and integrating innovative solutions that address complex challenges. His expertise spans policy development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment with mission objectives. Passionate about advancing national security, Scott is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create impactful change. He holds a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Colorado, a MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of leaders.
"John has 15 years in corporate accounting and financing, with 10 years dedicated solely to supporting the federal government. He specializes in financial analysis and strategic planning to help drive decision making and growth.
John started his career at METIS Solutions - which he was part of the team that completed a successful transaction to PAE in October 2020. From there, with multiple stints at a private equity owned portfolio company, and a veteran-owned small business, John has provided key strategic and operational insights that have resulted in rapid company growth and scale.
John holds a B.S. And M.S. in accounting and finance from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and the State University of New York at Buffalo, respectively.
Bobby McAleer is a seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience in financial and program management. As Sector Vice President of Research & Development at Blue Sky Innovators, he leads a team of 50+ professionals, overseeing operations, strategic planning, and business development. His career spans roles in corporate finance, project portfolio management, and leadership for clients including the Department of War, the Department of State, and Intelligence Community. He holds an MBA from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Elon University. He is TS/SCI cleared and excels in financial analysis, risk management, and strategic planning. Outside of work, he enjoys being a devoted husband and father. He’s also an avid fan of DC sports and college basketball.
Scott brings 25 years of experience in Department of War Financial Management and Acquisition Support for Space and Ground Systems. He’s supported the program control and acquisition of space related systems for DoW, OSD, Air Force, Army, MDA, DARPA, USSF, and the IC. He’s provided key financial advice, acquisition strategy, and oversight to program managers, program directors, and senior leaders.
Scott started his career as an Air Force Officer. After getting out of the Air Force he started his next career doing SETA work for a small business and helping run that business. In 2016 he formed Blue Sky Innovators with his business partners. Scott has 16 years of experience managing small business SETA companies.
Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Finance specialization and a minor in Aerospace Studies. After his Air Force duty, he received a Master of Business Administration from Webster University.
Specialties: Financially constrained and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) challenged space programs
Cindy Ellis, is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 year of experience in accounting, tax, and audit services. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from California State University of Northridge and became a CPA in 2004. She has over ten years of public accounting experience as an auditor in a wide range of industries from closely held start-up to middle market companies. She has been in Controller positions since 2011 in privately held companies in the numismatics, restaurant, restaurant supply chain and government contracting industries.
She resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two daughters and dog where they enjoy the outdoors.
Mike Frankel is a distinguished retired USAF Colonel and visionary leader with a remarkable career in aerospace and defense. As Sector Vice President of Acquisition and Operations at Blue Sky Innovators, he leads teams supporting SAF/AQ, the Office of the Secretary of War, US Space Command, and other critical programs.
During his military career, Mike showcased CEO-level leadership as Wing Commander of one of the USAF’s busiest airfields, overseeing 25 organizations, 3,000 personnel, and a $96 million payroll, while generating $217 million in economic impact. A former F-15C Weapons School Instructor Pilot and National Security Council advisor, he shaped defense policy and directed high-stakes missions.
Armed with advanced degrees from Air University and the National War College, Mike’s expertise spans Foreign Military Sales, international relations, software engineering, and national security. A relentless analytical person, his leadership continues to shape the future of aerospace and defense.
Scott has 30 years of experience in technology development in both Government and Industry roles. He is a former Defense Intelligence Agency senior leader and US Navy reserve officer. Expert in building, coaching, and leading teams in optimizing engineering and operational programs, Scott also leads Blue Sky’s internal research & development initiatives. Scott has a MS in Computer Science from Pace University and a BS in Computer & Information Sciences from John Jay College (NY). He is a US nationally certified soccer coach and has likely traveled to twice as many countries than you have.
Mia is a retired Air Force Contracting Officer with 21 years active duty Air Force and 12 years Industry contract administration and management experience. As Government, she was an expert in classified space system research and development, operations and maintenance, and contingency contracting. She worked exclusively and extensively across multi-disciplined teams on major Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) programs and acquisitions-- from requirements development to contract award and administration to compliance and close out. As a contractor, Mia has extensive experience supporting start-up and growing small businesses as they scale and learn to navigate the federal contracting space. She has a BS in Business from Wayland Baptist University, a MS in Human Resource Management from Chapman University, and is a Certified Federal Contracts Manager and DoW Contracting Level III.
Mia joined the Blue Sky team in 2024 and teleworks from Sarasota, Florida.
Randall Trani leads enterprise strategy at the intersection of mission and industry, accelerating the adoption of dual-use technologies for defense and national security clients. A retired Senior Executive Service (SES) leader, former U.S. Diplomat, and U.S. Army veteran, Randall brings more than 25 years of experience modernizing capabilities and integrating emerging technologies into mission-critical workflows.
Prior to joining Blue Sky Innovators, Randall served as Deputy Director for Intelligence (J2) and Senior DIA Representative to U.S. Forces Korea, where he leveraged the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, foreign partner capabilities, and industry to meet complex intelligence and operational requirements. Earlier, he held successive senior leadership roles within the Defense Clandestine Service (DCS), including Chief of Operations, Associate Deputy Director for Operations, and Deputy Director. In these roles, he directed global operations, oversaw tradecraft and resourcing, and authored and executed a strategic roadmap to restructure the organization and operating model against increasingly sophisticated threats.
A true practitioner-scholar, Randall bridges theory, execution, and commerce. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and an MBA in Technology Management. Beyond government service, he is a successful entrepreneur who founded and scaled a global consumer brand. He is a fluent Korean speaker, a Certified Executive Coach, and an Adjunct Professor of Intelligence and National Security at the University of Arizona.
Operating Locations
Let's Build Something Together
Blue Sky Innovators welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions. Our available prime contract options are listed below.
Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
- Sponsor: Missile Defense Agency
- Ceiling: $151B
- Contract #: HQ085926DF037
- Period of Performance: December 28, 2025 – December 28, 2035
APEx
Advanced Prototyping and Experimentation (APEx) Consortium Managed Other Transaction Agreement (OTA)
The Advanced Prototyping and Experimentation (APEx) Consortium operates under 10 United States Code § 4021 (Research Projects) and 10 United States Code § 4022 (Prototype Projects), allowing it to pursue Follow-On Production transactions. APEx aims to operationalize Science and Technology, delivering significant changes by advancing scientific knowledge at a rapid pace.
- Sponsor: United States Army Research Lab (ARL), Combat Capabilities Command (DEVCOM)
- Ceiling: UNLIMITED
- Period of Performance: July 16, 2024 – July 15, 2034
GSA
GSA
General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) allows federal, state, and local agencies to quickly obtain commercial products and services at pre-negotiated fair and reasonable prices without going through lengthy competitive bidding processes.
MAS 47QRAA20D001N
Period of Performance: 11/20/2019 to 11/19/2029
Seaport-NxG
Seaport-NxG
Seaport Next Generation IDIQ allows ordering activities across 23 subcategories in engineering and program management services that support research, development, testing & evaluation of new and existing Naval capabilities and systems across the DoD acquisition lifecycle.
- Sponsor: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
- Contract #: N00178-25-D-7141
- Period of Performance: 1/2/2019 to 1/1/2029
TRADEWINDS
TRADEWINDS
Tradewinds is the CDAO’s (Chief Digital and AI Office) Acquisition Ecosystem, built to disrupt traditional acquisition and procurement processes and enable the delivery of emerging technology solutions across the Department of War (DoW). It serves as the platform for learning, acquiring, and delivering cutting-edge technology.
- Sponsor: Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)
- The Solutions Marketplace Model is fully compliant with the SECDEF Memo entitled “Directing Software Acquisition to Maximize Lethality” (March 6, 2025) and the Executive Order entitled, “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base” (April 9, 2025).
- All awardable solutions have been assessed through complex scoring rubrics and competitive procedures and are available to Government customers with a Marketplace account. Government customers can create an account at www.tradewindai.com
