Biography of Don Willis

FourD Education Foundation - President
  
FourD Development, LLC - President
  
FourthWave, LLC - Chairman

Since the sale of his previous company (Command System, Incorporated) to General Dynamics in the summer of 2002, Mr. Willis has been instrumental in the founding of three new organizations:

• FourD Education Foundation - performing research on an alternative approach to the delivery of education which will allow "Every Child to Get Ahead", and establishing a new school system (Keystone Schools) built on academic rigor with student progress to be based on proficiency, not age.
    
• FourD Development, LLC - providing advanced system products utilizing new system concepts coupled with technology developed at his previous company, and developing integrated systems in support of the mission objectives of the FourthWave, LLC.
    
• FourthWave, LLC - building on the technology of FourD Development to enhance public safety and homeland security, and bringing entrepreneurial experience and business success to issues of vital concern to the future of Fort Wayne and its Northeast Indiana Economic Region.

Prior to its sale to General Dynamics in 2002, Mr. Willis was President of Command System, Incorporated, a company he helped found in January of 1989.   Command System, Incorporated (CSI) concentrates on the development of intelligent networked systems for the support of industrial/operational/tactical command and management responsibilities.   The focus of this concentration is in providing near real-time "decision support" for the decision-maker/warrior/manager wherever he is in the organizational structure.

Mr. Willis' 45 years of successful entrepreneurial and business development experience includes 22 years at Magnavox Electronic Systems Company in Fort Wayne (prior to its acquisition by Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon), Mr. Willis had several major accomplishments while with Magnavox.   These included the acquisition of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) Program, and the development of satellite navigation systems.   He also pioneered the development of large (up to 1 meter) flat panel plasma displays, and directed the acquisition, development, and production of the Fire Support Team Digital Message Device (FIST-DMD) and the Digital Message Device (DMD) line of products.

Prior to joining Magnavox, Mr. Willis was a computer Systems Research Scientist with the U.S. Navy.   He is a member of several professional organizations and is an accomplished musician.   He has also been a Logic Design and Display Technology lecturer at both Purdue University and George Washington University.

Early in 2004 Mr. Willis was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor bestowed by the governor of Indiana for distinguished service to the state.   He is also entrepreneur-in-residence at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne's School of Business.   On May 12, 2004, Mr. Willis was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree from Purdue University in recognition of his distinguished leadership and contributions to the Fort Wayne Community.

On May 13, 2005 Mr. Willis was honored with the Trailblazer in Technology Award by Techpoint, Indiana's statewide organization that focuses on technology-led economic development. The award was created to recognize individuals whose vision and efforts in advancing technology have made a lasting contribution to Indiana.   Previous winners include entrepreneurs Mark Hill, Scott Jones, Jim Eifert, David Becker, The Lilly Endowment and Purdue University President Martin Jischke.

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