LEADERSHIP TEAM

Strong roots. Eric Cruz was born in Guam, just months before Typhoon Karen devastated 90% of the island, an event that sent his family in search of milder climates in the United States. Eric grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia, surrounded by a rich cultural blend of American history and military installations. After graduating high school, Eric began working in a Cooperative Education Program as an Engineering Student Trainee at NASA Langley Research Center. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Eric immediately began working as a Civil Servant engineer for the Naval Mine Warfare Engineering Activity in Yorktown, Virginia, and he quickly rose to the position of Division Chief. Seeking a new challenge, he made the decision to resign in 1995 in order to start a business.

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Focused. Chris Cruz was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and at a young age moved with his family to the Island of Guam. Chris was three years old when the historic Typhoon Karen devastated the island and chased the Cruz family back to the United States to the much calmer state of Virginia. Chris graduated from high school in Williamsburg, Virginia, and immediately pursued a college education. He attended Wake Forest University, Virginia Tech, George Washington University, Old Dominion University, and The College of William and Mary, earned one undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees in the fields of engineering and applied mathematics.

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As the Vice President of Operations, Greg Stewart brings over 25 years of professional experience in Government Acquisition, Program Management, and Army Aviation to Cruz Associates Inc. Prior to joining the Cruz team in 2007, he served over 23 years in a variety of aviation leadership and special operations acquisition positions with the U.S. Army. Greg also held a leadership position as the Project Manager for the Technology Applications Program Office.

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As the Vice President of Military Programs, Brian Thompson brings a wealth of experience to Cruz Associates. Brian is an experimental test pilot and a 20-year veteran of United States Army. Most of Brian’s service has been in support of the United States Special Operations Command, which included two separate assignments with the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He has flown 48 different aircraft ranging from gliders to F-18s and a number of different rotorcraft.

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In 2021, after 26 years of military and government service, Mac joined the Cruz team as the Director of DoD Acquisitions.  His extensive career includes duties as a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment MH-6M pilot, a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) fellow, Product Manager (PM) MH-47G, PM Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB), and PM Special Operations Mission Planning Execution (SOMPE).  He also served as the Commander of the Technology Development Directorate – Aviation / Systems Integration and Demonstration (TDD-A/SID) where he was responsible for the strategic resourcing of personnel, organizational focus, and mission readiness of the largest Aviation-centric laboratory within the Army’s Aviation and Missile Center.  

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As the Director of Human Resources and Finance, Jenni Pease brings over 25 years of experience with Cruz Associates, Inc. in Budgeting, Audits, Human Resources, Government Compliance, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Finance and Accounting Agency, Strategic Planning, Subcontracting and Accounting.

Jenni Pease is a lifelong resident of Yorktown, Virginia.  She is a graduate of York High School and then pursued her college education at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia where she earned her degree in Business Management and Accounting.

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Colonel (Ret.) Vincent Reap brings over 26 years of distinguished Army Aviation and special operations service to Cruz Associates, Inc.  A seasoned leader and aviator, Vince has held numerous key positions in special operations aviation since 1993, including Deputy Commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) and Director of Aviation and Maritime Operational Assessments at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).  In addition to commanding and leading conventional and special operations aviation Soldiers on the battlefield in combat and in peacetime operations during his 26 year military career, he has also led the evaluation

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As a lifelong resident of the Hampton Roads area Robert followed in his grandfather’s footsteps working with Department of the Navy energetics. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 2006 and began working for Cruz Associates Inc. in 2008 as an Industrial Maintenance Technician at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, eventually moving with the 2010 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) to Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center. During this time he attended Virginia Peninsula Community College and Old Dominion University receiving two Associates of Science with a concentration in Geospatial Engineering. Robert manages critical ordnance and energetic support operations for our Department of Defense customers at Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland and Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Virginia.