J.S. Ross

My background is somewhat eclectic, but ultimately has underlying themes tying together certain interests, skills, and capabilities. In my current "day job," I serve in a strategic and international business development role for a privately held company in the defense industry, based in Los Angeles, California.

As part of my duties, I have developed and implemented a comprehensive global regional analysis utilizing open source intelligence covering more than 80 countries to guide international business development efforts, with personal oversight of Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe, and a key supporting role in Western Europe and Southeast Asia. I’m also spearheading our Unmanned Systems pursuits on a global scale, including Unmanned Aircraft, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, and Unmanned Surface Vehicles.

From March 2017 through June 2020 as a collateral duty, I was our company’s program manager for the competitive U.S. Department of Defense OSBP Mentor-Protégé Program under U.S. Air Force sponsorship. As a result of the Mentor-Protégé team’s exemplary performance under my leadership, our team, which included the largest defense contractor in the world, received a prestigious Nunn-Perry Award for FY2019.

Prior to my role within this defense industry organization, I worked as a freelance Management and Communications Consultant, primarily working with clients in the Media/Entertainment and Technology fields. I also performed MBA-level work with investment banks and a leading business planning consultancy. Earlier in my career, I worked in creative development and story analyst roles for several Hollywood production companies and producers, and over the years I’ve won numerous awards and recognition for my creative writing for feature film, television scripts, and prose.

I earned a MFA from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and a BA in Political Science and English Literature from Duke University, and was recognized during my senior year with Duke’s most prestigious award for undergraduate creative writing.