LEADERSHIP BIOS
Chuck Wald
CEO
General Charles F. Wald (USAF, Ret.) is the Chief Executive Officer of RG5 LLC (RG) and its subsidiaries, Robbins-Gioia, LLC and PM Telco, LLC. He is responsible for overseeing all of RG’s business development and operations. Prior to joining RG, General Wald was the President of Jones Group Middle East (JGME), responsible for overseeing all of JGME’s business development and operations in the region. General Wald is a subject matter specialist in best commercial business practices, doctrine and strategy, military procurement and sustainment, counterterrorism, technology innovation and international energy security policy.
An acknowledged leader on global military strategy and development, General Wald is sought after to deliver speeches at private industry events, national policy institutions as well as colleges and universities. He routinely conducts radio and television interviews on topics including supply chain, defense budget planning, cost reduction, foreign military sales, and weapons systems such as the Joint Strike Fighter Program. General Wald was named by the Defense News “as one of the 100 Most Influential People” listing for U.S. Defense and a Top 100 Airpower Advocate. He has had Op-Eds published in many leading periodicals to include the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York Times. He has testified before the United States Congress on numerous occasions.
General Wald retired from the U.S. Air Force as a four-star general after serving over 35 years in the U.S. military as a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours and 430 combat hours. In his last position, he served as deputy commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) from 2002 until his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in July 2006. In that role he was responsible for U.S. forces operating across 92 countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and most of the Atlantic Ocean. During his command, he developed the European Command’s first ever Strategic Plan that included energy assurance and sustainment for the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR).
General Wald earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC program in 1970. He was an All-American wide receiver and played on two National Championship football teams. After graduation he was drafted into the National Football League by the Atlanta Falcons. He has combat time as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam and as an F-16 pilot flying over Bosnia and Iraq. He was the Chief of the U.S. Air Force Combat Terrorism Center, was selected as the USAF’s first Support Group Commander, commanded a Combat Operations Group, and was the special assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff for the Quadrennial Defense Review. He was the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, served on the Joint Staff as the Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy and was the U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for the Air and Space Operations in the Pentagon.
General Wald commanded the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, where on August 30, 1995, he led one of the initial strike packages for NATO in the Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict. From 1999 – 2001, he commanded the 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces where he was responsible for all USAF Combat Forces East of the Mississippi and in the Middle East. In September 2001, as the Supported Commander, General Wald led the development of the coalition response and air campaign against the Taliban in Operation Enduring Freedom, including the idea of embedding tactical air control parties in coalition ground special operations forces. The operation led to the initial defeat of Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
Prior to joining Jones Group Middle East, General Wald served as Vice Chairman, Federal Practice Senior Advisor, Deloitte Services, LP. He provided senior leadership in strategy and relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense as well as Deloitte’s Commercial Aerospace and Defense Clients globally. As a Managing Director for Deloitte’s Defense Sector practice, General Wald managed the single largest account in the U.S. firm with annual revenue of over $300 million. Prior to being recruited to join Deloitte as a Director in 2009 and a “Brand Transformation Leader”, General Wald served as the Vice President of International Programs for L-3 Communications Corporation, based in Washington D.C. from 2007-2009.
General Wald has received numerous major military awards and decorations. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Troy University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law from North Dakota State University. He has completed coursework at Harvard University and the National War College. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from North Dakota State University.
General Wald currently serves on numerous non-profit and Think Tank Boards of Directors. Of note, he is on the Board of Trustees for the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Atlantic Council and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He also serves as a Senior Military Advisor to the United States Institute for Peace.
Barett Byrd
COO
Barett Byrd brings over four decades of combined military and business leadership to RG. As a United States Marine, he served in both the enlisted and officer ranks achieving the rank of Colonel. Subsequently, he has held executive positions in Business Development, Operations, Consulting, and Ownership in professional services, electronics and hardware manufacturing, and MRO operations in support of U.S. Department of Defense and commercial clients worldwide.
Mr. Byrd has a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University where he concurrently served as a Visiting Scholar/Fellow at the Mershon Center for International Security and Public Policy and a Certificate in Supply Chain Management from Pennsylvania State University. He holds a B.S.A. in Economics from the University of Arkansas. He is actively involved in raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, as well as leadership in numerous outdoor and wildlife conservation organizations.
Alexandra Codispoti
CFO
Alexandra Codispoti brings more than 16 years of experience in Accounting and Finance in both the private and public sectors for federal and commercial companies.
Ms. Codispoti has held various management positions overseeing project and financial accounting; pricing; financial planning and analysis; government compliance; and strategic operations. In addition, she has led numerous business integrations while improving business processes, compliance initiatives and cost reductions.
Ms. Codispoti has a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from Oklahoma City University. She is actively involved in the community and with Tulsa Alumni Association.
Tony Garbarino
Human Resources Director
Tony Garbarino brings nearly 20 years of Human Capital experience to his role as Director of Human Resources, with the vast majority of his career operating as an HR professional in the Defense and Civilian consulting space.
In his 15 years with RG, Garbarino has led several critical areas of the business to include talent acquisition, talent development and employee workforce engagement. As well as overseeing RG’s Human Resources Department operations and administration, he focused his time designing talent management programs & initiatives that better align RG’s human capital with the overarching business growth strategy.
Garbarino continues to bring best practices and innovation to help cultivate a culture of learning, development and employee engagement, while also championing RG’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.
In addition to his time with RG, Garbarino had previously supported Raytheon’s services company as a Talent Management Manager, where he implemented various strategic programs and initiatives to ensure stronger workforce development and management. Garbarino has a Bachelor’s degree from Towson University.
Jeff Martin
Aerospace Director
Jeff Martin brings over 27 years of aviation logistics knowledge and expertise in defense industrial production spanning to RG. Jeff has earned a reputation for influencing change and deploying innovative solutions across large, complex production and maintenance operations.
He achieved the rank of Colonel and held numerous positions throughout the U.S. Air Force culminating as the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Vice Commander. Martin served over 13 years within the Air Force Materiel Command where he honed his manufacturing, repair, and overhaul acumen. He was also the Headquarters Air Force Logistics Panel Chair overseeing logistics planning, programming, budgeting, and execution (PPBE).
Joint assignments include the Army Command and General Staff College and Joint Forces Command where he integrated joint logistics into joint doctrine. Command tours include the 402d Aircraft Maintenance Group and the 654th Combat Logistics Support Squadron.
As a lifetime Logistics Officer Association (LOA) member, Martin is a past LOA national executive committee member, chapter advisor, and chapter president. He received the LOA Gen Babbitt National Distinguished Service Award for his work on the executive board as the national membership chair.
Martin has an M.A.S. in Aviation/Aerospace Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as well as an M.S. in Strategic Studies from Air University. He’s also attended the Depot & Arsenal Executive Leadership Program from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Lean Six Sigma Executive Course from North Carolina State University. Martin holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University.
Michael Homendy
Product Development Director
Shawn Fairweather
Technical Solutions Director