George F. Close Jr.

George F. Close Jr. has held various leadership positions throughout their career. George F. started as the Assistant Division Commander Operations for the 10th Mountain Division, where they provided operational and command leadership. George F. then served as the Director of Operations for the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), leading the operational direction and exercise training programs for military forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Close later became the Director of Operational Plans and Interoperability for the Joint Staff, responsible for integrating war plans and joint training, doctrine, and education. George F. also served as a Vice President at The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, overseeing operations, plans, and human resources. Close was the President and CEO of International Development Solutions (IDS), a leading provider of integrated security solutions. George F. later became the President of Hayat Logistics Services, a joint venture formed to support the business development capture efforts of large-scale U.S. government contracts. Close was then appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Olive Group North America (OGNA), a global company based in Washington, D.C. George F. is currently serving as the President of The SPECTRUM Group, a strategic consulting company that supports the U.S. government's Defense and Aerospace, Security, and Energy industries.

George F. Close Jr. has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Pepperdine University, which they earned in 1974. George F. also attended the United States Marine Command and Staff College, where they focused on Military Security Policy and Strategy, although the specific start and end years are not provided. In 1989, they completed a program in Military and Strategic Leadership at The National War College. In 1998, they participated in a program on Organizational Leadership at the Center for Creative Leadership. Later, in 1999, they engaged in a program on Military Security Policy and Strategy at The Johns Hopkins University.