John Bramer

Chief of Staff

Key Responsibilities

John Bramer is Chief of Staff of the SEI as well as the Executive Director of Washington Operations. Bramer oversees all aspects of the SEI's internal operations including compliance, security, information technology, communications, staff relations, policy development, and community involvement. He is also responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with government organizations, especially the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, which have significant software engineering and cyber security needs and challenges. His principal office is in Arlington, Virginia.

Professional Background

Bramer, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), joined the SEI in 2007 after 10 years with SRI International (formerly the Stanford Research Institute), an independent research institute in Silicon Valley. Bramer served in many roles at SRI, including Systems Engineer for DARPA's Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program, Director of the Radio Science and Engineering Division, Director of Engineering, and Executive Director of Washington, DC, operations. While Bramer was at SRI, the Institute's business tripled from $100 million to more than $300 million per year. Additionally, Bramer was instrumental in establishing SRI's multimillion-dollar Harrisonburg, VA, Center for Advanced Drug Research.

Bramer retired from the U.S. Navy as a Captain in 1997 after serving in assignments worldwide for more than 23 years. In addition to multiple operational tours as a qualified Surface Warfare and Naval Flight Officer, he served in research, development, and acquisition roles, including assignments as Commanding Officer of an Aviation Depot headquartered in Japan, and as a Major Program Manager at the Naval Air Systems Command for the Tomahawk Cruise Missile and Precision-Targeting and Mission-Planning Systems. Bramer received numerous team and personal awards during his military career, including the 1997 DOD Joint Service David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award.

Bramer earned a BS in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned an MS degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from Duke University.

Education

MBA, Business, Duke University
MS, Aerospace Engineering, US Naval Postgraduate School
BS, Political Science & Government, US Naval Academy

Certifications/Licenses

Program Management - DAWIA Level III, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Department of Defense
Test and Evaluation Engineering - DAWIA Level III, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Department of Defense
Systems Planning, Research and Development Engineering - DAWIA Level III, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Department of Defense
Communications and Computer Systems - DAWIA Level III, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Department of Defense
Business, Cost Estimating and Financial Management - DAWIA Level III, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), Department of Defense