Ly M. Tran, CEO and Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Prior to co-founding Rylex, Ly spent the previous 18 years in computer and office supply sales. He developed a reputation during his many years in sales, as a hero often 'saving the day' with his personal service. He is a master at building and maintaining "relationships", and is well known for his integrity and dedication. Ly's life epitomizes the classic, inspiring American Immigrant story. He escaped his native country, Vietnam in the early 1970's. He was a child refugee commonly referred to as a 'boat person,' who was lucky enough to obtain passage on an Panamanian cargo ship as it traveled through Malaysia. As a 12 year old alone in a foreign country; Ly survived by working hard, staying true to his word and by sharing his enthusiasm for life and his love for those around him. These values are deeply rooted in his management style and evident in Rylexs' corporate environment. Ly is a true American Patriot; proud to the core-grateful, for his American citizenship and for his role as a provider of goods and services that support the Department of Defense and the Federal Government. Ly is an active participant with the Boy Scouts of America, and involved with his church and community where he is often found helping neighbors and friends with various projects. He is an avid racquetball player, an occasional golfer and loyal sports enthusiast.
Tamara Tran, President and CFO
She is responsible for the fiscal management of the company. Tamara has extensive experience in financial accounting and business management. Her management style is to hire skilled professionals; then stand down, giving them freedom to "do what they do best." Her confidence in others' abilities allows them the flexibility to explore "solutions" and create the outstanding "results" that customers and employees expect from Rylex. Tamara believes the key to success in life is rooted in gratitude. Her commitment to "leave every person and situation in better shape than she found them..." is echoed by the Rylex Project Managers and Team leads and evident by their excellent examples and service to their Government Customers and fellow employees. Prior to co-founding Rylex, Tamara spent the previous 15 years in the banking industry; development lending, mortgage and construction lending and title and escrow work. She attended Brigham Young University. She was born in Seoul, Korea. She and Ly have 2 children, Ryan and Alexa.
General (Ret.) Lance L. Smith, Special Advisor
General Smith served as the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, and NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation from November 2005 to November 2007. He retired from the Air Force in 2008 after 38 years in the US military.
As commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, General Smith was one of the nation’s 9 Combatant Commanders reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense and the President. He led more than 1.19 million service members, civil servants, contract employees and consultants providing combat resources and training to America’s war efforts around the world. As Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation; he worked to train NATO’s military forces and transform their structures, capabilities and doctrine to improve military effectiveness of the Alliance, most recently focused on the fight in Afghanistan. Prior to this job, General Smith was the Deputy Commander of US Central Command responsible for overseeing US activities in the Middle East, Horn of Africa, and Southwest Asia; including Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A native of Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in business management, General Smith received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1970. He also earned a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and attended the Air Command and Staff College, the Army War College, and the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University.
He has more than 13 years in command during war and peace, ranging from commanding two USAF fighter wings and two composite expeditionary wings in the Middle East to service as the 7th Air Force Commander and Air Component Commander for all Allied air forces in South Korea. General Smith also was the Commander/President of the USAF Air War College; the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany; and the Air Force Doctrine Center.
As a command pilot, General Smith has more than 3,000 flight hours in a wide variety of fighter aircraft and flew more than 150 combat missions in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Vietnam, he assisted in the pickup and recovery of over 15 downed airmen as an A-1 Skyraider ‘Sandy’ pilot. He earned 3 Silver Stars, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 10 Air Medals, and the Purple Heart in combat.
Other significant achievements include: Responsible for the first women to undergo pilot training in the US Air Force, oversaw initial training and indoctrination for the first Eastern Block officers to work with NATO militaries after the fall of the Wall, pioneered the modern Air Expeditionary Force concept that resulted in the current structure of the US Air Force.
General Smith currently serves on the executive committee of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the executive board of the North Carolina Military Foundation, and board of directors for Rylex Consulting.
R. Max Steadman Jr., Director of Operations
He is a graduate of Utah State University with a BS in Geology with Geophysics emphasis. He has over 30 years experience in the communications industry - 24 of which was spent at Northrop Grumman and TRW Inc. as a project and program manager on seven major DOD programs. Max's technical experience includes data communications, RF broadband and wireless transmission and audio and video production. He is an experienced communications engineer and has worked as an electronics technologist on rocket based upper-air research projects at at Utah State University's Space Measurements Laboratory, now known as Space Dynamics. He was responsible for the successful implementation and delivery of the worlds first largest Broadband Local Area Network - installed at Ogden Air Logistics Center. He has also provided technical training for the Peoples Republic State Information Center in Beijing, China. Max believes that providing superior quality and consistent customer service is not just good business but something that our customers deserve and should expect. Therefore, that is what we provide. Max enjoys cross-country running, woodworking and fly fishing. He and his wife Diann are the parents 5 children and grandparents of 16 grandchildren.
Steven Noyce, Director of Human Resources/Contracts
He is a native of Ogden and a graduate of Weber State University with a BA in English, and an MBA. He has over 10 years experience in Government and Contract administration and business management. He brings 15 years experience in Human Resource and Personnel Management to Rylex. He plays a key role in the management team; as he shares his many years' experience - lessons learned and sound business advice in the daily management of Rylex. Prior to working for Rylex, he worked at Weber State College, Monarch Nutritional Labs, Nutraceutical Corp, Universal Computers Services and several DOD contract companies.
In his "spare time" he is an instructor for Stevens Henegar College, he is a member of their Technical Advisory Board. Steve is active in his community and enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife, Lisa have 3 children - Steven, Trisha and Jacob.
Paul Garoppo, Director of Business Development/Marketing
Paul Garoppo served in the United States Air Force as Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist, Logistics Resource Augmentation Program Officer, Chief Quality Assurance Inspector, Italian Interpreter, and Program Manager. He retired in 2006 after 20 years of service to his country.
As Program Manager, Site Manager, Regional Manager and Director of Operations he concentrated on developing small business government ventures for several 8(a) companies in Texas and Utah.
Paul is a native of Virginia and holds degrees/certifications in Business Management, Aerospace Systems Engineering and Fitness and Nutrition. He has attended the Community College of the Air Force and University of Maryland, but is a true Virginia Tech fan!
He has more than 16 years’ experience maintaining and managing negotiations, contracts, and overseeing proposals, request for information, and pricing on military and government transactions.
He performs teaming with major contractors using all available contract vehicles providing past services to the Australian Government, PACAF, USAFE and 33 stateside government and state organizations.
Paul is an avid golfer and sports fan whom enjoys traveling to Europe and Mexico. He and his wife Karen are the proud parents of their two sons Austin and Jarred.
Katie Sterbenz
Katie brings 20-plus years of big-business experience in the defense industry, specifically within the military/government segments with Boeing and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). She has more than 15 years of experience with Government Contracts and Pricing and Proposal Management. She adds six-plus years Project and Program Management, providing implementation for small-scale programs, research and development programs and large-scale programs. Throughout her career, Katie has continuously been involved in proposal development and negotiations; frequently being the proposal team lead for both competitive bids and sole source acquisitions. She is currently performing multiple functions for Rylex related to Government Proposals and Contracts.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from California State University, Long Beach and a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Phoenix. She is a certified SCUBA diver and enjoys traveling with her husband, Allen.