Careers at Optics 1

Dan Rowell is honorably retired from the US Army after 18 years of active duty. He graduated from West Point and started in the Armor branch as a tank platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), TX. Dan served as a Captain in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Polk, LA as an S4 (logistics), and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) for 15 months in Baghdad. Upon return, he was reassigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA as a company commander for a Rifle (Infantry) company in 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. After a successful 20-month company command, Dan served as battalion staff as both an S4 and S3 (tactical planner). He deployed in support of OIF again for 12 months, living in Baghdad and Baquoba. Once he returned home from deployment, he reclassified as a US Army Acquisition Corps Officer serving as a Program Manager (PM) out of Detroit Arsenal, MI. He held various PM positions in the Ground Vehicle Systems Center and in PM Stryker. On his third deployment, this time to Afghanistan for 4 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Dan supported forward deployed Stryker units and prime contractors performing Stryker vehicle upgrades. When he returned home, he served as an aide to the PEO for Ground Combat Systems (GCS) and moved to the Pentagon as a Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for 2 years. After his Pentagon time, Dan served in PEO Soldier out of Fort Belvoir, VA and was assigned as a PM within PM Solder Warrior. Dan then retired from active duty service. 

At Optics 1, Dan is a Director of Programs. In his day to day, he helps provide a steady hand in managing the cost, schedule, technical performance, risk, and expectations for the projects he is assigned. He is a team player and leads by example in both word and deed. Dan is known to be kind, he motivates and inspires by bringing his best self to work every day, and he is a valuable, accountable team member. He is able to use skills learned throughout his extensive military career, including being a team player, leading by example, and listening.

When asked why he chose Optics 1 as a Veteran, Dan told us: "I chose Optics 1 to be part of a winning culture and one where people are kind to one another, will help one another out, and the idea of placing the team ahead of self in order to reach goals and achieve personal and professional excellence. Optics 1 has a strong team spirit and is very close to the Warfighter. In many ways, working at Optics 1 allows me to stay connected to my Soldier roots and use the lessons I've learned over the years to help the company move forward and provide critical capabilities to those in harm's way."

Thank you, Dan, for your service!

Check out Dan's Veterans Day feature on the Safran site here and in the video below!