Ernst Volgenau

Ernst Volgenau is the Chairman of SRA International Inc., a company he founded in 1978. SRA is an information technology consulting and systems integration company serving primarily the federal government. The firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (SRX).  Since its founding, SRA has sustained rapid growth and now exceeds 5,500 employees.

Dr. Volgenau has 40 years of experience analyzing, designing, and developing large technological systems of all types. He was commissioned as an Air Force lieutenant in 1955. In the late 1960's and mid 1970's, he was an analyst and team leader in the Office of the Secretary of Defense conducting large-scale weapon system and command structure analyses. From 1970 to 1974 he held positions as manager of software and database development and later program manager for a very large computer system. He was also Director of Data Automation for the Air Force Logistics Command. He retired as a colonel in the Air Force in 1976 after 20 years of service.

From 1976 to 1978, Dr. Volgenau was Director of Inspection and Enforcement in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In this position, he managed an office of about 700 engineers and physicists that inspected all of the commercial nuclear power plants under construction and in operation in the United States.

Dr. Volgenau received a PhD in engineering in 1966 from the University of California at Los Angeles. He also holds a master's degree in electrical engineering and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Dr. Volgenau is a professional  engineer, a member of Tau Beta Pi, and a graduate of the Air Force astronaut course. For eight years he taught graduate courses in electrical engineering, computer systems, and operations research at the University of California at Los Angeles, American University, and George Washington University.

Dr. Volgenau’s awards include:  Air Force: Legion of Merit (twice), Meritorious Service Medal; US Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Distinguished Service Award, Equal Employment Opportunity Award; Executive of the Year in 2005 presented by Northern Virginia GovCon; Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 presented by the National Capital Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth; Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Washington Region) in 2006 presented by  Ernst & Young; Virginia Outstanding Industrialist of the Year in 2007, presented by the Science Museum of Virginia.