KARYN BARKER

Executive Portfolio. Please enter your access code.

Karyn Barker

KARYN BARKER

Program Management Executive  |  Defense & Commercial Space  |  PMP  |  CGC

"I bridge the gap between strategic vision and ground-level execution in the defense and commercial space sectors. As a third-generation aerospace professional, PMP-certified program manager, and Florida-licensed General Contractor, I build the PMO frameworks, federal compliance systems, and operational strategies that allow organizations to scale their infrastructure and win in complex federal environments."

LinkedIn Profile Contact Me

Executive Summary

As a third-generation space industry professional, my career has been defined by a singular focus: building the operational frameworks and infrastructure systems that allow defense and commercial space organizations to scale safely, efficiently, and in full federal compliance.

I am a Program Management Executive and strategic business partner who bridges the gap between C-suite vision and tactical execution. Holding both a PMP and a Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC) license, I bring a rare combination of federal contracting expertise (FAR/DFARS/CMMC), construction management authority, and crisis leadership to high-stakes environments — including direct program oversight of aerospace infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Base.

Whether deployed to stabilize a failing federal contract at Cape Canaveral, architecting enterprise-wide Project Management Offices from the ground up, or leading strategic turnarounds that retain multi-million-dollar federal accounts against national competitors, my approach is rooted in critical thinking, precise communication, and absolute integrity.

Currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Space Commercialization at the University of Central Florida while conducting a targeted job search for senior program management opportunities in the aerospace and defense sectors. I am committed to integrating forward-looking technology with proven operational excellence — positioning myself and my future organization at the leading edge of the Space Coast's next chapter.

Core Competencies & Expertise

PMO Architecture & Strategy

  • Enterprise PMO Development from Ground Up
  • Full Lifecycle Program Oversight
  • Standardized SOPs & Estimating Tools
  • KPI Monitoring & Variance Analysis
  • Cost Tracking & Budget Control

Federal Contracting & Compliance

  • FAR / DFARS Navigation
  • CMMC / NIST 800-171 Compliance
  • SAM.gov, SPRS & PIEE Administration
  • Classified Program Support
  • Master SLA Development & Negotiation

Aerospace Infrastructure & Operations

  • KSC & CCSFB Program Oversight
  • Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC)
  • Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  • IFM Contract Operations
  • Crisis Leadership & Operational Stabilization

Technology & Innovation

  • Procore Enterprise Implementation
  • Microsoft 365 / SharePoint / Teams
  • AI Project Management (PMI-CPMAI, In Progress)
  • MDM & Mobile Workforce Solutions
  • Digital PMO Transformation

Technical Proficiency

Program & Project Management

  • Microsoft Project
  • Procore (Certified — PM, Financials, Quality & Safety)
  • Critical Path Method (CPM)
  • Resource-Loaded Scheduling
  • Earned Value Management (EVM) Concepts
  • Risk Identification & Mitigation

Construction & Document Management

  • Bluebeam Revu
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro
  • Procore Document Control
  • Submittal & RFI Management
  • Drawing Coordination & Markup

Cost Estimating & Financial Analysis

  • RS Means (Cost Estimating)
  • Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
  • Budget Variance Analysis
  • Cost Forecasting & Should-Cost Analysis
  • Microsoft Power BI

Collaboration & Productivity

  • Microsoft Teams & SharePoint
  • Microsoft 365 Suite
  • MDM Systems
  • Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive)

Visual Communication & Presentation

  • Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro
  • Canva
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Advanced)

Federal Agreement Compliance

  • NASA Enhanced Use Leases (KSA series)
  • USAF Property Licenses (AFSPC-DBEH)
  • Commercial Space Operations Agreements
  • Multi-Tier Flowdown Compliance
  • FAR/DFARS/CMMC Frameworks

Currently Developing

  • Primavera P6 (familiar with methodology)
  • SQL & Data Analytics Tools
  • Tableau

Strategic Impact & Case Studies

The Cape Canaveral Contract Turnaround

Interim Program Director  |  Space Florida IFM Contract  |  Kennedy Space Center & Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Challenge:
A critical Integrated Facility Management (IFM) prime contract held by Space Florida was failing during a leadership transition, jeopardizing client trust, operational continuity, and a multi-million-dollar federal account. The contract's expansive scope covered the operations and maintenance of multiple high-profile aerospace facilities across both Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, including: Exploration Park at KSC (200-acre campus), Space Life Science Laboratory (104,000 sq. ft. facility), South Campus at CCSFS, Shuttle Landing Facility (15,000 LF runway and associated structures), Operational Storage Facility at Camp Blanding, and Area 57 at CCSFS (high bay processing facilities).
Action:
Deployed as Interim Program Director (Jan–Apr 2024) to stabilize the contract during a critical leadership transition. Coordinated directly with Space Florida's Facilities Manager to maintain operations, restructured the operational team, implemented rigorous compliance protocols, and rebuilt the client relationship through transparent, consistent stakeholder engagement. Navigated a multi-tier federal agreement environment including NASA Enhanced Use Lease Agreements (KSA series), USAF Property Licenses (AFSPC-DBEH series), and a Commercial Space Operations Agreement between USAF and Space Florida.
Result:
Stabilized all operations with zero disruptions to active aerospace infrastructure across KSC, CCSFS, and all associated sites. Restored full client trust and successfully retained the multi-million-dollar contract against competing national firms. Transitioned operations to permanent leadership upon stabilization.

Enterprise PMO Development

Program Manager  |  RUSH Facilities, LLC
Challenge:
The organization lacked standardized project management processes, leading to inconsistent estimating, proposal generation, and execution across federal and commercial portfolios in the aerospace sector.
Action:
Architected and built the organization's first comprehensive Project Management Office (PMO) from the ground up. Developed standardized estimating tools, SOPs, cost tracking systems, and proposal frameworks aligned with FAR/DFARS requirements. Championed early CMMC/NIST 800-171 compliance adoption to position the organization for CUI contracts.
Result:
Created scalable, replicable systems that significantly increased federal win rates, reduced budget variance to within 10%, and improved overall operational consistency across all project portfolios.

MILCON Contract Win via Strategic Proposal Rewrite

Project Manager / Estimator  |  RUSH Construction, Inc.
Challenge:
A highly competitive military construction (MILCON) proposal for a secure Space Control Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (DBEH143000) resulted in a tie between contractors, requiring an immediate and decisive strategic response to win the award.
Action:
Took ownership of the proposal rewrite, meticulously analyzing the initial evaluation feedback to identify gaps. Authored a supplemented, highly detailed response that specifically addressed the Florida Army National Guard's evaluation criteria and operational requirements.
Result:
Broke the tie and secured the contract award. Successfully managed the subsequent Total Small Business Set-Aside contract, expanding the organization's footprint in secure federal defense infrastructure.

Federal Market Expansion & Certification

Project Manager  |  RUSH Construction, Inc.
Challenge:
The organization needed to expand its federal and commercial footprint, standardize project delivery, and secure certifications to compete for a broader range of defense and government contracts.
Action:
Led commercial design-build initiatives, championed the enterprise adoption of Procore for project management standardization, and navigated the certification processes for WBE and DBE designations. Developed and managed strategic proposals targeting federal and commercial aerospace clients.
Result:
Successfully managed projects ranging from $100K to $2.5M. Secured WBE and DBE certifications, unlocking new federal revenue streams. Contributed to significant new project awards through strategic proposal development, including federal defense and commercial aerospace clients across the Space Coast region.

Credentials & Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Certified General Contractor (CGC)
State of Florida
PMI-CPMAI — AI Project Management
Project Management Institute
In Progress
Executive MBA — Space Commercialization
University of Central Florida
In Progress — Expected 2027
Procore Certified: Project Manager
Procore Technologies
Generative AI for Project Managers
Project Management Institute

Verified Digital Credentials

PMP Badge
PMP®
PMI
Generative AI Overview Badge
Gen AI Overview
PMI
Data Landscape GenAI Badge
Data Landscape
of GenAI — PMI