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Aptima, Inc., the leading human-centered R&D company that applies expertise in the disciplines of how humans think, learn, and behave to solve challenges faced by the U.S. Department of Defense, announced today the promotion of three members of its staff to the company’s Executive Management team.
Thomas J. McKenna, Chief Financial Officer
Thomas J. McKenna joined the company in 2000 as Director of Accounting and Finance. Most recently, he served as Aptima’s Senior Vice President of Finance. Mr. McKenna brings over 25 years of experience in the accounting and finance field, and over 20 years of extensive experience in government cost accounting. Under his day-to-day management of Aptima’s security, information systems, contracts, and finance departments, he oversaw the expansion of the company’s administrative and financial structure from supporting 20 people in one office, to supporting over 110 people in three office locations.
Prior to joining Aptima, Mr. McKenna was an Incurred Cost and Cost Accounting Technical Specialist for the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA). Prior to DCAA, Mr. McKenna was Controller at ALPHATECH, Inc. (now BAE Systems).
Mr. McKenna received his M.S. in Taxation from Suffolk University, and his B.S. in Business Administration from Merrimack College. He is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Dr. Frederick Diedrich, Chief Operations Officer
Frederick Diedrich, Ph.D., joined the company in 2001 as a Cognitive Scientist. For the past several years, he has served as Aptima’s Vice President of Technical Operations. Dr. Diedrich is an expert in training, performance measurement, and perceptual-motor processes. His work in training needs analyses, training effectiveness evaluations, and training design spans a variety of applications including game-based applications, multimedia technologies, and automated feedback systems. His initial push into the field of multimedia training, via a project for Naval Special Warfare focused on development of a training system to enhance helmsman skills, helped to trigger Aptima’s multimedia work which has led to over $3.6M in sales and a growing area of business.
Prior to joining Aptima, Dr. Diedrich was at Exponent–Failure Analysis Associates, where he studied issues concerning the prevention and causes of accidents associated with a wide range of consumer products such as automobiles, video displays, home appliances, and juvenile products.
Dr. Diedrich holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science and a M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Brown University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College. He is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Dr. Jared Freeman, Chief Research Officer
Jared Freeman, Ph.D., joined Aptima in 1999 as a Research Psychologist and was most recently Senior Vice President of Research. As Chief Research Officer, Dr. Freeman will be responsible for fostering scientific excellence by increasing the focus, efficiency, and dissemination of research at Aptima. Dr. Freeman is an expert in the development of decision aids, training content and systems, performance and communications measures, feedback technologies, and organizational structures that support mission leaders and their staffs. Dr. Freeman has authored over 90 articles and book chapters concerning these and related topics. Most recently, he oversaw the development of an organizational modeling system for the U.S. Navy to support its creation of eight Maritime Operations Centers (MOC).
Prior to joining Aptima, Dr. Freeman was a Scientist at Cognitive Technologies, where he developed a highly automated approach to assessing student knowledge of tactical situations, as well as instructional technology that improved situation assessment and planning by Army officers. He has also consulted to Bell Labs.
Dr. Freeman holds a Ph.D. in Human Learning and Cognition from Columbia University and a M.A. in Educational Technology from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and is a Contributing Editor to its journal, Human Factors.
About Aptima
Aptima, Inc. (aptima.com) is a leading human-centered research, development, and engineering company that works primarily for the military research labs, DARPA, and NASA. We optimize the fit between people, the technology they use, and the organizations in which they work. Aptima’s innovative approach integrates social science and engineering to produce new knowledge and new technologies that ensure mission success. Aptima is headquartered in Woburn, MA, with offices in Washington, DC and Dayton, OH.
Media Contact:
Joel Greenberg, DCPR LLC
P: 202-363-1065 / C: 202-669-3639.
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