2005 ISE Alumnus of the Year

Lavon F. Jordan, Founder and Chairman of Frontier Technology, Inc.
1603 Oramas Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-2025
805-899-4748 and 805-685-6672 ext. 104
LJordan@fti-net.com

Lavon Jordan received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962 and his master's degree in Industrial Engineering in 1969 from Auburn University. He formed Frontier Technology, Inc. (FTI) in 1985. He has diversified the customer base and transitioned FTI from purely defense services to a balance between commercial and defense products and services. His vision is to be a $100M company by 2009, accomplished through an acceleration of FTI's annual growth rate. This vision has led the company to develop automated tools and related services for commercial and defense customers. He is recognized in the aerospace community as a pioneer in the quantitative planning and analysis of aeronautical, air defense, electronic and space systems.

Jordan has made significant technical and programmatic contributions toward modernizing aging systems and selecting cost-effective new candidates. During his 42 years in the defense and commercial markets, Jordan has managed a number of successful programs. In addition, he has developed new analytical methodologies for the U. S. Air Force, U.S. Army, as well as joint agencies and offices. A strong advocate for a single defense modernization process, Jordan has actively served on two national committees addressing this issue. In 1995, Jordan cofounded the Defense Planning and Analysis Society (DPAAS). DPAAS has the vision for integrated, multi-level planning tools focused on U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and aerospace decision makers' needs. At Frontier Technology, Jordan has succeeded in migrating the company's defense culture to one that is more commercial, emphasizing IT services and engine health monitoring.

Starting in 1998, he successfully led FTI's first acquisition. Subsequently he has acquired and integrated four new entities: two in defense and two in commercial (software development and software services). FTI was selected as Company of the Year in Southern California by the South Coast Business and Technology Association in 2003. In 2004, Jordan was named an Honorary Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee's Advisory Council from California.