David E. Potts, Ph.D., President of Tazewell Strategies, is a business consultant to aerospace, defense and technology companies in Northern Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area. With thirty years of experience as a political-military advisor and international defense representative for the U.S. Air Force, he knows how to explain military subjects to politicians and political subjects to military officials.

During his service at the Pentagon and two embassies, David learned how government customers arrive at decisions and the ins and outs of export control policies and procedures. His post-military business career included international business development for the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, primarily serving European customers.

David spent nearly a decade with Lockheed Martin’s best practices section, where he was the corporate subject matter expert on customer relations and international business. He has facilitated effective and efficient Black Hat and Gold Team sessions and helped business units develop winning strategies and coherent customer value propositions.

In his last corporate assignment, David helped found and establish Lockheed Martin International, a new organization to consolidate and enhance international business growth. As its first staff director, he was instrumental in the strategy, planning and organization of two headquarters – one in Reston, Virginia and the other in London, England.

David has served as a panelist and moderator at numerous events throughout the country. He has been a featured speaker at conferences and seminars and for nine years led TechAmerica’s cross-industry International Defense Forecast Team. Throughout both his military and business careers, his foremost desire has been to help people understand what was needed for success and give them the information and tools necessary to get the job done.