Ed Riley

Ed is the President and Founder of C-Dragon Consulting, focused on assisting startup to mid-sized DOD Contracting companies to grow and prosper in today’s challenging environment. With over 5 decades of experience starting as a U.S. Navy Helicopter Crewman and Rescue Swimmer, to F-14 Tomcat Pilot. Ed accumulated over 450 carrier landings across 10 different Aircraft Carriers and was the Operational Test Pilot on the AIM-54C Phoenix missile before retiring with 24 years’ service.

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Ed went on to another career at Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) where he worked in a variety of positions from Flight Test to Program Management and Director of Business Development. His experience on programs as varied as the B-2 Bomber to the F-23 Prototype eventually led him to multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicle projects that included the RQ-4 Global Hawk, Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, and MQ-8 Fire Scout. In his final NGC role as Flight Test Director for the Broad Area Communications Node (BACN), he became familiar with multiple Tactical and Broad Band Data Links and integration on a variety of advanced platforms before leaving NGC in 2004. Ed took on the role as the West Coast Business Development Director for CSC where his knowledge of Military Operations / Data Links / Command and Control / Battle Management led to multiple program successes. 

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Establishing C-Dragon Consulting in 2010, has allowed Ed to share his knowledge and experience with multiple companies, including GALT, where he has participated in and managed proposals leading to key program wins and became a member of the GALT Board of Directors in 2019.

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A Graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle with degrees in Physics and Oceanography, Ed has also attended multiple Service Military Acquisition Schools as well as Navy Fighter Weapons School, “Top Gun.” As a member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), and former President and Board Member of the San Diego Navy League, Ed continues to actively participate in multiple Non-Profit organizations including the American Legion and VFW.