User:Lgsbowen/Earl W. Stafford

Earl W. Stafford, Sr.
Born in Mount Holly, New Jersey on May 14, 1948, Mr. Earl W. Stafford, Sr. is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Stafford Foundation, Inc., a faith-based nonprofit organization, and Chief Executive Officer of The Wentworth Group, LLC, both based in Reston, VA. - Cached

Early Life
Earl W. Stafford is the ninth of 12 children of his parents Mabel (nèe Willis) and Robert E. Stafford. His father was a part-time assistant minister at a church he helped found, the Second Baptist Church in Mount Holly, NJ, and also worked full time as a laborer at the Campbell Soup Company for more than 40 years. Mr. Stafford began his entrepreneurial career at the age of 8, selling hot dogs and mowing lawns. - Cached

Education and Early Career
Mr. Stafford received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Southern Illinois University. He is a graduate of the OPM Executive Program at Harvard Business School.

Before entering the corporate world, Mr. Stafford had a 20-year distinguished career in the U.S. military that included service as the assistant Air Force Liaison Officer to the Federal Aviation Administration. In that capacity, he was responsible for ensuring Department of Defense initiatives and programs were integrated into the FAA’s National Airspace System modernization effort. Mr. Stafford retired from the Air Force in 1987. - Cached

UNITECH, INC
In 1988, Mr. Stafford founded UNITECH and served until 2009 as the chairman and chief executive officer. UNITECH was an award-winning training and simulation technology solutions company, headquartered in Northern Virginia.  

UNITECH served a wide range of federal and commercial customers with professional services and solutions. Through integrated teams, flexible methodologies, and precise implementations, the company assured customers’ success in three core areas: sustaining operations, aviation solutions, and training and simulation.  

Under Mr. Stafford’s leadership, UNITECH gained an international reputation for being a world leader in manufacturing and providing a complete portfolio of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems (MILES), range instrumentation and other force-on-force Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) employed in advanced military training.   

In 2008, UNITECH surpassed $100 million in revenues and in 2009, revenues reached $135 million. UNITECH was acquired by Lockheed Martin, Inc. in January 2009. 

The Stafford Foundation, Inc.
In 2002, while Mr. Stafford was still leading UNITECH, he and his family founded the faith-based nonprofit organization, The Stafford Foundation (TSF), Inc., based in Reston, VA. The Stafford Foundation’s work is based on the precepts of Jesus Christ to help bring about a world in our lifetime in which all people have the opportunity to become self-reliant and live in dignity.

TSF collaborates with and invests in capacity-building efforts that equip the underserved through programs that provide health, education, training and faith-based mission support. Since the Foundation began its grant-making program it has committed more than $1 million in funding to viable nonprofits that focus on education and training, health and wellness, and mission-based support. 

The People’s Inaugural Project
The first major initiative of The Stafford Foundation was The People’s Inaugural Project in January 2009. This unprecedented event brought more than 300 disadvantaged and underserved individuals to Washington D.C. for a three-day, deluxe celebration of President Barack Obama’s inauguration. "The Benefactor of the Ball” Washington Post, December 4, 2008

More than 2,000 individuals attended, including representatives from more than 40 nonprofit groups that help people in need, such as wounded veterans, homeless individuals, and severely disabled adults become self-sufficient. The 300 disadvantaged guests were lodged in rooms at the JW Marriott and participated in a 1,000-person Prayer Breakfast, a 1,000-person Martin Luther King Luncheon with a keynote speech by Martin Luther King III, a viewing of the inaugural parade from the JW Marriot 12th floor terrace, a main inaugural ball, a youth and teen ball.  [newsone.com/obama/.../the-glory-of-the-peoples-inaugural-project-2/ - Cached] 

The People’s Project and the Doing Good Campaign
The People’s Project encompasses initiatives through grants that support programs with viable nonprofits groups aligned with TSF’s mission. Since the fall of 2009, TSF has supported the work of 30 organizations with grants totaling more than $1 million. [http//www.thestaffordfoundation.org] In January 2010, The Stafford Foundation (TSF) launched a national movement to motivate people to help others in need by Doing Good. Comedian and educator Bill Cosby stood alongside Earl W. Stafford, TSF chairman and cEO, to announce the launch of the “Doing Good” campaign. Mr. Stafford and Dr. Cosby unveiled a national public service announcement featuring Dr. Cosby promoting the initiative. The Doing Good campaign is based on a simple principle: to help those in need become self-reliant so that they will in turn be inspired to help others. The effort focuses on ways to help people with job-training, health and wellness, and mission-based support. 

The Wentworth Group, LLC
Mr. Stafford also is the chief executive officer of The Wentworth Group, LLC, a consulting firm headquartered in Reston, Virginia. - Cached

Awards
Earl W. Stafford, Sr. Named 2010 Horatio Alger Award Recipient "The Stafford Foundation Chairman and CEO to be Inducted April 2010 in Washington, D.C. for Overcoming Adversity" The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans announced on January 13, 2010 that Earl W. Stafford, chairman and chief executive officer of The Stafford Foundation, Inc., will receive the 2010 Horatio Alger Award in recognition of his personal and professional success despite humble and challenging beginnings. 

Earl W. Stafford Receives Outstanding Philanthropist Award at National Capital Philanthropy Day Celebration The Washington DC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP/DC) honored Earl W. Stafford, chairman of The Stafford Foundation and host of the 2009 People's Inaugural Project, with the Outstanding Philanthropist Award during its National Capital Philanthropy Day celebration on Friday, November 20, 2009. Stafford was nominated by the Venture Philanthropy Partners and was recognized for his contributions to making a positive impact in his community and throughout the country. 

Earl W. Stafford Receives first-ever “Stand Together” Award from Salvation Army of Greater New York The Salvation Army of Greater New York honored Earl W. Stafford, chairman of The Stafford Foundation and host of the 2009 People’s Inaugural Project, with its first “Stand Together” Award during its 62nd Annual Luncheon. 

Earl W. Stafford Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from N’Digo Foundation The N’Digo Foundation honored Earl W. Stafford, chairman of The Stafford Foundation and host of the 2009 People’s Inaugural Project, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual black-tie gala, held at Chicago’s new UIC Forum on June 20, 2009. The Reverend Jesse Jackson presented the award in recognition of Mr. Stafford’s professional achievements and career contributions to making a positive impact in his community and throughout the country. [www.blacknews.com/news/ndigo_foundation101.shtml - Cached - Similar] 

Tennessee Legislature Honors The Stafford Foundation Tennessee’s State Legislature recently recognized The Stafford Foundation and its founder Earl W. Stafford with a joint resolution honoring Mr. Stafford and the foundation for sponsoring the unprecedented People’s Inaugural Project in January 2009. “Earl W. Stafford and The Stafford Foundation have demonstrated a firm commitment to the principle of democratic inclusion, the idea that men and women from all walks of life should not only be tolerated but encouraged to participate in the civic life of the United States of America,” states Joint Resolution No. 58, sponsored by Representatives Karen D. Camper, Barbara Cooper and Joanne Favors and Senators Ophelia Ford, Beverly Marrero and Jim Kyle."

Personal
Mr. Stafford currently serves on the Boards of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - Cached -, Similar ; Drexel University, Wesley Theological Seminary [http//www.wesleyseminary.edu/catalog/id.53/page.asp] Venture Philanthropy Partners [http:www.venturephilanthropypartners.org/about/people/board.html] and Business Executives for National Security (BENS) - Cached

Mr. Stafford is married to the former Amanda Boardley, and they reside in McClean, Virginia. They have three children. - Cached