Charles Wallace is the Deputy and Execution Manager of the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program, an agile procurement accelerator within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Designed to expedite the transition of capabilities into production and accelerate fielding to the warfighter, APFIT prioritizes technologies developed by small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. APFIT serves as an additional tool for the Department of War to bridge the "Valley of Death" and rapidly propel innovative capabilities into the hands of warfighters. To date, the program has awarded over $2 billion to 107 projects across the Department.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Wallace served as a deputy director of business intelligence for a small, cleared defense contractor. In this role, he was the Program Manager for several contracts, leading a diverse team of professionals across multiple disciplines and skill sets.
Mr. Wallace began his career in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Intelligence Specialist, serving at various levels of command. He held key positions including Targeting Chief, Collections Chief, Intelligence Chief, and instructor. Over his 22-year career, he supported multiple service, joint, and special operations combat missions. Mr. Wallace holds both a Master of Arts in International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies from American Military University.