Donald J. Reifer is a seasoned executive with more than 40 years of experience in the software industry, academia, and government. His key accomplishments include the following:

• Strategic leader who has developed the vision, product strategies and plans that have been used to transform businesses and corporate cultures.
• Innovator, entrepreneur, businessman and internationally recognized software thought leader.
• Businessman who as a team member has helped bring new firms public (focus on operations).
• Capture manager with impressive record of over a dozen competitive Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) wins.
• Agile executive coach and subject matter expert with over a decade of experience in enterprise-wide applications.
• Recognized expert with 30+ years of experience managing large Research & Development efforts and enterprise-wide improvement initiatives (process, agile, analytics, etc.).
• Consultant who has helped clients introduce new technologies and other innovations and transition them into widespread use within over a dozen major companies.

 

Don founded and ran a management consulting firm in the 1980’s which focused on software and Information Technology management issues. His focus was on helping Fortune 500 firms to use technology to improve their bottom lines. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Reifer managed the Department of Defense Software Initiatives Office.  He led major defense initiatives and joint programs and served as a Senior Executive Service official (Lt. Gen. equivalent).  While with TRW, Reifer acted as Program Manager for their Global Positioning Satellite program and managed their R&D efforts.  While with the Aerospace Corporation, Reifer managed the software efforts related to their Space Shuttle efforts.  He is known for his business, technical, analytic, program management, team-building and practical problem-solving skills.

Don received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), his M.S. in Operations Research from University of Southern California (USC), and the Certificate in Business Management for Technical Personnel from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).  He has taken advanced courses in program management, business management, operating systems, process improvement and security.

Reifer has published eleven books and over two hundred software engineering and management papers.  His most current books include:

• Agile Software Quality (2 volume set), Amazon Digital Services, 2018.
• Software War Stories: Case Studies in Software Management, Wiley, 2013.
• Software Change Management: Case Studies and Practical Advice, Microsoft Press, 2011.
• Software Maintenance Success Recipes, CRC Press, 2011.
• Making the Software Business Case: Improvement by the Numbers, Addison-Wesley, 2001.

Donald J. Reifer, Reifer’s many awards include the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the DISA Distinguished Service Award, the AIAA Software Engineering Award, the ICEAA Freiman Award, membership in Who’s Who in the West, and the Hughes Aircraft Company Masters Fellowship.

Don is currently semi-retired.