ARA Leadership

Board of Directors

James Allen

James Allen, Chairman, has been an ARA Director since 2009. He serves as a Board member and consultant to numerous companies and has over 40 years of extensive financial and management experience, primarily focused on creation of shareholder value.

Curt Beckemeyer

Curt Beckemeyer is President & CEO of ARA. He joined ARA in 1992 and has been an ARA Director since 2025, having previously served as a director from 2012 through 2023.

Natalie Keeney

Natalie Keeney has been an ARA Director since 2023 and with ARA since 2005. She serves as the Engineering Science Division Manager.

Kyle Millage

Kyle Millage has been an ARA Director since 2022 and with ARA since 2006. He is a Vice President and Director of Mission Systems Strategic Development.

Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski (Ret.)

General (retired) Ellen Pawlikowski has been an ARA Director since 2019. She is an independent consultant providing expertise to industry and academia on strategic planning, program management, logistics, and research and development.

William Ratliff

William Ratliff has been an ARA Director since 2023 and with ARA since 2008. He is Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President.

Robert Sues

Robert Sues has been an ARA Director since 2005 and with ARA since 1986. He also serves on the national-level Board of Directors of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).

William Vavrik​​​​​​​

William Vavrik has been an ARA Director since 2024 and has been with ARA since 2000. He is a Senior Vice President and oversees ARA's Transportation & Infrastructure Sector.

Steven Walker

Steven Walker has been an ARA Director since 2025. He has extensive experience including former leadership positions with Lockheed Martin and DARPA and is currently an independent consultant providing expertise to industry, academia, and government on defense technology development and strategic innovation.

Jeffery Wilkins

Jeffery Wilkins has been an ARA Director since 2022. He served as ARA’s CFO/Executive Vice President from 2007 through 2009 and as ARA’s CFO/Senior Vice President from 2018 until his retirement in 2020.