Our Leadership Team
At Xiphos Partners, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive impactful results for our clients. Our leadership team brings a wealth of knowledge and deep industry expertise to ensure Xiphos Partners remains at the forefront of technology innovation and excellence across all sectors.
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Executive Team
Our leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, guiding Xiphos Partners towards sustainable growth and operational excellence. Their vision ensures that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation and strategic development.
Matthew Sedgwick
Co-Founder & CEO
Matthew Sedgwick
Co-Founder & CEOMatt Sedgwick is the CEO and co-founder of Xiphos Partners and is responsible for leading the enterprise and strategy functions of the business. His background includes military, corporate, and entrepreneurial leadership roles in technology, aerospace, and defense businesses.
Matt is a former naval aviator and builds Xiphos Partners on the belief that entrepreneurial thought and speed must be applied to our nation's most complex challenges to achieve better outcomes. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson and Master of Science in Business, Communications, and International Studies from Wake Forest.
Dan Cardiello
Co-Founder & COO
Dan Cardiello
Co-Founder & COODan Cardiello is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xiphos Partners. In this role, he leads the company initiatives in providing scoping, development, and analytics support to some of the largest defense programs in the industry.
Prior to Xiphos Partners, Dan was a Lockheed Martin SEAHAWK R/M H-60 PBL acquisition manager and advanced logistics subject matter expert. He has extensive experience in the application of advanced data analytics and metrics architecture in sustainment programs.
Steve Skiptunas
CTO & Chief Engineer
Steve Skiptunas
CTO & Chief EngineerSteve Skiptunas serves as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Engineer at Xiphos Partners. In this capacity, he leads the design and development of the METIS Advanced Sustainment Platform within the Advanced Data Analytics and Forecasting (ADAF) sector of the Xiphos Advanced Sustainment business unit.
With over 20 years of expertise in advanced aviation sustainment, Mr. Skiptunas is recognized for his leadership in analytics for Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) programs across both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the commercial aerospace industries. He is notably credited with the development of analytics, metrics, and tools essential to the award-winning U.S. Navy H-60 Tip-to-Tail PBL and H53E PBL programs.
As an established subject matter expert in the industry, Mr. Skiptunas has significantly contributed to the formulation of advanced concepts and best practices that have become standard in major defense PBLs and sustainment contracts. He has offered analytics consulting services to prominent programs, including Bell's MSS and AVLS, as well as Lockheed Martin's F-35. His innovative methodologies and leadership continue to shape the future of aviation sustainment.
Mr. Skiptunas holds a Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) with a concentration in IT/Database from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Bill Clement
Chief Financial Officer
Bill Clement
Chief Financial OfficerBill Clement is Chief Financial Officer at Xiphos Partners and responsible for leading the financial and administrative functions of the business.
His background includes financial leadership roles in high-growth organizations primarily focused on innovative technology and products provided to the DoD. Bill’s involvement in supporting resources for critical defense platforms include undersea, aerospace, and ground resources.
Bill holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts. He is also a licensed scuba diver, private pilot, and holds a USCG Master License.
Timothy Sprau
Director of Advanced Sustainment Programs
Timothy Sprau
Director of Advanced Sustainment ProgramsTim Sprau serves as the Director of Advanced Sustainment Programs at Xiphos Partners. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading the organization’s execution of critical aerospace and defense sustainment programs. He brings more than 20 years of experience to Xiphos Partners, helping to drive the organization's strategic vision and cutting-edge approach towards aerospace and defense sustainment.
Prior to joining Xiphos Partners, Tim held leadership roles with top defense and aerospace companies, where he was responsible for the design and execution of a portfolio of complex sustainment programs, including program management, sustainment operations, supply chain management, quality, affordability, and customer engagement. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Neumann University.
Kirk Nelson
Director Advanced Training Systems
Kirk Nelson
Director Advanced Training SystemsKirk Nelson serves director of Advanced Training Systems and program manager for the JTAC virtual training system (JVT) at Xiphos Partners. In this role he is responsible for the transition of the JVT training system to a program of record as well as the development of new and related advanced training products.
Kirk came to Xiphos Partners from Bell Textron, where he served as director of sustainment, V-22. In this role, he was responsible for multiple performance-based logistics (PBL) contracts that exceeded all performance metrics during his tenure. He led his team in expanding the PBL business at Bell and the V-22 sustainment team was routinely recognized for their superior support to the warfighter. He was also responsible for Bell’s fleet service team which included over 100 field service representatives. Prior to joining Bell, LtCol Nelson was the commanding officer of VMM-266 where he was responsible for the tactical employment of 12 MV-22B/C aircraft.
Kirk enlisted in the Marine Corps and became a CH-46E mechanic and was later selected to attend the United States Naval Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. He went on to serve 24 years in marine aviation and graduated from multiple military training courses.
Advisory Board
Our leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, guiding Xiphos Partners towards sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Mark Harnitchek
Vice Admiral, USN (ret.)
Mark Harnitchek
Vice Admiral, USN (ret.)Mark Harnitchek retired as a vice admiral from the Navy in 2015. With over 20 years of experience in a cadre of executive leadership roles, most notably the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Deputy Commander of US Transportation Command, Mr. Harnitchek is a recognized logistics expert industrywide and co-authored the USDOD –Defense Science Board “Survivable Logistics” study published in 2018. He provided detailed guidance adapting the existing Project METIS software to meet the needs of simulating contested logistics as a seasoned veteran logistics practitioner with real-world experience in contested environments. Mr. Harnitchek holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State and a Master of Science from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Thomas J. Owen
Lieutenant General, USAF (ret.)
Thomas J. Owen
Lieutenant General, USAF (ret.)Thomas J. Owen served over 34 years on active duty with the first 20 years as an aircraft maintenance officer and commander, serving overseas many times including 2 years in Korea and deploying to the middle east and far east with squadrons of USAF aircraft. After two years as a logistics group commander, Mr. Owen served 7 ½ years as an ACAT 1D SPD (C-5, C-17, F-22) and 5-years as a Designated Acquisition Official (DAO) (Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Commander)/Program Executive Officer (PEO) (Aeronautical Systems Center Commander). He was a MAJCOM Director of Logistics twice. Additionally, he spent 6-years as the Vice President of Sustainment Strategy at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Mr. Owen provided and continues to provide guidance for the Project METIS CL Simulator module enhancement.
David Adler
Entrepreneur / OEM Executive
David Adler
Entrepreneur / OEM ExecutiveDavid Adler joined Helicopter Support, Inc. (HSI), founded by Renzo J. Pierpaoli, in 1973 and assumed the Presidency of the company in 1987. During his tenure he helped grow HSI from a $300K company to a $75M business. As a result, HSI became the preeminent helicopter support and services company in the world. In 1998, HSI was acquired by Sikorsky Aerospace, where Mr. Adler eventually became president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS). He built SAS into a $2.5B business supporting over 7,000 aircraft in more than 75 countries around the world. In 2015, Mr. Adler left to begin his consulting career and remains a juggernaut in the aviation sustainment and logistics industry.
Karsten S. Heckl
Lieutenant General, USMC (ret.)
Karsten S. Heckl
Lieutenant General, USMC (ret.)Lieutenant General Heckl is a distinguished retired officer of the United States Marine Corps, with a service record spanning from 1988 to 2024. His operational experience is extensive, with deployments as a CH-46E pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons 365 and 263. He also served as a CH-46E Instructor and Division Head at MAWTS-1 in MCAS Yuma, Arizona, and was part of the initial cadre of pilots at Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204).
LtGen Heckl is a distinguished graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School and the Naval War College. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, and Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Georgia State University and was commissioned in April 1988, receiving his designation as an unrestricted Naval Aviator in September 1990.
Bryan Scurry
Executive Director, CNAF (ret.)
Bryan Scurry
Executive Director, CNAF (ret.)Bryan Scurry retired from the Senior Executive Service in 2023 as the Executive Director for Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), where he instituted data analytics into flight operations. Other executive assignments included Assistant Chief Engineer for Mission Systems Architecture at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) and the Head of the Command and Control Department at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC PAC). Mr. Scurry currently serves as a Leidos Navy Account Executive, supporting growth activities across multiple sectors.
You’re in Good Company
Are you ready to be part of an innovative company that’s working to solve some of the world’s most complex problems? At Xiphos Partners, we are always looking for talented individuals to join our team.
