Watts to Head National Security Innovation Network Partnership at UNO

OMAHA – An entrepreneurial business leader will head collaboration activity between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

Wade Watts has been named the inaugural program director at UNO for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and began his role at the end of July.

NSIN is a program office within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which serves as a national problem-solving network that adapts to the emerging needs of those in the defense and national security arenas and helps connect university researchers with the defense needs of the United States.

As NSIN program director at UNO, Watts will further build collaboration between academia and the DoD by expanding on the partnerships for which individual faculty, students, and administrators at UNO have already helped lay the foundation.

“The University of Nebraska at Omaha is excited to build this relationship with NSIN and further develop collaboration with the Department of Defense,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center. “UNO is fortunate to have Mr. Watts serve as its NSIN program director, and we see countless opportunities for our researchers and students based upon NSIN’s impressive track record with a network of universities across the nation.”

In his role, Watts' key objectives will include finding solutions to DoD problems through coursework, leveraging of campus resources and developing new ventures; creating a national security problem-solving ecosystem across UNO, Omaha business, and DoD partners throughout the area; and planning, delivering, and evaluating NSIN programs in partnership with UNO.

Watts brings significant entrepreneur and academic experiences as the former founder, CEO, and COO of two startup companies and as an award-winning executive with more than 15 years of experience in management consulting positions at Booz Allen Hamilton and other firms.

Specifically, he served as CEO of his own management consulting firm through the establishment of marketing campaigns and internet presence for businesses through process engineering and strategic planning to maximize profits and customer satisfaction. He also worked as Chief Operating Officer of AsiaMag, an Internet-based international business magazine, set up business opportunities and ventures between U.S. firms and businesses in Taiwan, and managed offices in both locations.

In his capacity with Booz Allen Hamilton, Watts was key to the international firm winning a $1 billion government contract, the largest in the firm’s history at that time. As the company’s transition planning expert, Watts developed and authored a firm-wide Transition Strategic Plan, which standardized new procedures and implementation plans for moving and integrating new business from incumbent companies/contractors to the firm’s contracts and business.

His other leadership experience includes senior program management for Omaha-based Fiserv, where he managed and led one of the company’s largest and most complex government Electronic Federal Tax Payment System contracts, known as the Fraud Monitoring Solution Pilot. He also worked as cyber security initiative program manager for a financial services firm in Lincoln, where he hired, formed, led, and managed a program management office.

Watts also served in the Air Force in various aviation and staff positions within United States Strategic Command and the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base.

The NSIN partnership with UNO is the second such collaboration in the Midwest Region, which includes Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Those with questions, or are interested in working with Watts, should reach out directly by emailing wwatts@nsin.us.