Ned Krafchick is a distinguished defense executive, retired U.S. Army Colonel, and nationally recognized expert in the munitions and defense industrial base with more than three decades of leadership experience spanning military operations, national security strategy, business development, and defense manufacturing. Throughout his accomplished career, Ned has consistently demonstrated the ability to bridge the operational needs of the U.S. military with the strategic objectives of government agencies and defense industry partners. His unique combination of operational military leadership, strategic planning expertise, and commercial business development has positioned him as a trusted advisor and executive capable of advancing mission-critical initiatives while fostering long-term organizational growth.
Currently serving as Director of Business Development at Voyager Technologies, Ned is responsible for expanding strategic opportunities that support the Department of Defense and allied nations through advanced energetic materials and propellant solutions. In this executive leadership role, he works closely with government stakeholders, defense contractors, and industry partners to strengthen the nation’s industrial base while identifying emerging opportunities that enhance readiness and national security. His deep understanding of the complete munitions lifecycle—from research and development through manufacturing, sustainment, and demilitarization—enables him to provide strategic guidance that aligns operational requirements with innovative technological capabilities.
Prior to joining Voyager Technologies, Ned served as Director of Marketing & Sales for Saab Inc.’s Land Systems Division, where he led an eleven-member business development organization responsible for managing a business portfolio exceeding $400 million in annual order intake while overseeing a five-year opportunity pipeline valued at more than $3 billion. Serving as the principal advisor to executive leadership, he directed growth initiatives involving shoulder-fired weapon systems, Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb programs, advanced force-on-force training systems, and industrial base expansion efforts. His ability to cultivate strategic relationships across the Department of Defense, allied governments, and international defense organizations significantly enhanced Saab’s competitive position within the global defense marketplace.
Earlier, as Director of Business Development for BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., Ned successfully guided marketing, business intelligence, and capture efforts that generated more than $300 million in orders within less than two years. He specialized in identifying new markets, developing capture strategies, and building trusted relationships with senior military leaders, government decision-makers, commercial customers, and international partners. His expertise in defense acquisition, industrial base modernization, and long-term strategic planning enabled BAE Systems to strengthen existing programs while expanding into new opportunities that supported evolving defense priorities.
Ned’s foundation for executive leadership was established during an exceptional twenty-five-year career in the United States Army, where he retired with the rank of Colonel. Throughout his military service, he held progressively senior operational, planning, intelligence, and strategic leadership assignments that required both technical expertise and decisive leadership. As a career field artillery officer, he served in combat units for much of his career to include multiple deployments to Iraq. As Branch Chief for Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction Plans at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, he led planning efforts supporting U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Pacific Command while serving as a principal contributor to author of nuclear-related joint doctrine. Earlier assignments as Nuclear Planner for the Army’s 20th CBRNE Command placed him at the forefront of nuclear planning, weapons effects analysis, special access programs, and multinational contingency planning involving the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Beyond operational leadership, Ned has made lasting contributions to professional military education and strategic thought. As Assistant Professor of Defense Strategy and Resourcing and Course Director at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, he educated more than 300 senior military officers and civilian leaders annually while directing curriculum focused on acquisition, innovation, mobilization, and the defense industrial base. Leading a faculty team of approximately fifty instructors, he collaborated extensively with defense industry executives, government agencies, and international organizations to ensure future strategic leaders understood the complex relationship between industrial capacity, national policy, and military readiness. His passion for developing leaders reflects his belief that informed decision-making and strategic education are fundamental pillars of national security.
Ned’s academic accomplishments further reinforce his credibility as a strategic executive and advisor. He holds four graduate degrees, including Master of Science degrees in National Security Strategy and Technology Intelligence, along with Master of Arts degrees in Military History and Computer Resource and Information Management. His educational background is complemented by advanced professional military education, specialized nuclear planning and weapons qualification courses, and extensive participation in premier defense conferences including the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), DSEI, Eurosatory, and SHOT Show. Maintaining a Top Secret/SCI security clearance throughout much of his career, Ned has consistently operated at the highest levels of national security while advising organizations on some of the nation’s most complex defense challenges.
International collaboration has been a defining characteristic of Ned’s career. His work has included close partnerships with defense organizations and government leaders throughout Britain, Israel, Canada, Korea, Australia, and other allied nations, providing him with a broad understanding of coalition operations, international defense acquisition, and global industrial cooperation. These experiences have strengthened his ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders while navigating the geopolitical complexities that shape today’s defense environment. Whether supporting multinational military exercises, collaborating with foreign defense industries, or identifying opportunities for industrial partnerships, Ned approaches every engagement with professionalism, diplomacy, and an unwavering commitment to mission success.
Today, Ned is actively pursuing corporate board opportunities where his decades of executive leadership, military service, strategic planning expertise, and defense industry knowledge can help organizations achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. He offers boards a rare combination of executive business development success, government relations expertise, national security insight, and proven leadership under complex and demanding conditions. His passion for supporting veterans, preserving military history, strengthening the defense industrial base, and mentoring future leaders reflects a lifelong commitment to service that extends well beyond his distinguished military career. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Ned enjoys studying military history, playing ice hockey, and spending time walking the beach with his wifewith his family, finding balance through family, lifelong learning, and appreciation for the history that has shaped both his career and his values.
Character:
Ned leads with integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to service, qualities that have defined both his military and civilian careers. He consistently earns the trust of colleagues, government leaders, and industry partners by placing mission success, ethical leadership, and collaboration above personal recognition.
Knowledge:
With more than thirty years of experience spanning national security, munitions, defense acquisition, and business development, Ned possesses exceptional expertise across the defense industrial ecosystem. His combination of operational experience, advanced education, and strategic insight allows him to translate highly complex issues into practical business and organizational solutions.
Strategic:
Ned approaches every challenge with a long-term perspective that balances operational execution with future growth opportunities. His proven ability to develop billion-dollar opportunity pipelines, strengthen industrial partnerships, and align organizational objectives with national priorities demonstrates exceptional strategic leadership.
Communication:
Throughout his career, Ned has successfully communicated with military leaders, government officials, international partners, industry executives, and academic audiences at every level. His ability to simplify complex defense and national security issues fosters collaboration, builds confidence, and enables organizations to make informed
