Advisors

Dr. Gene Ray

Dr. Gene W. Ray currently serves as the Managing Director of GMT Ventures, based in La Jolla, California.  GMT provides assistance and guidance to early-stage technology and defense companies.  Dr. Ray, a founder of The Titan Corporation, served as Chief Executive Officer and as director of the corporation since the company's inception in May 1981.  Dr. Ray was President from May 1981 to May 2002 and was elected as Chairman of the Board in April 1999.  Before he launched Titan, Dr. Ray spent 11 years as Executive Vice President, General Manager, and Director of Science Applications International Corporation, Inc. (SAIC).

Dr. Ray served for 2 years as Chief, Strategic Division, U.S. Air Force (AFGOAS).  He held the position of Senior Appointee (Public Law 313) on the staff of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, where he led a team of military and civilian analysts and scientists.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Ray was with the Aerospace Corporation, where he contributed to weapon system analysis programs and specialized in the area of nuclear survivability.  Dr. Ray received his Ph.D in theoretical physics at the University of Tennessee in 1965; an M.S. in physics at the University of Tennessee; and a B.S. in mathematics, physics, and chemistry at Murray State University in 1960.

Susan Snow

Ms. Snow’s executive leadership skills include managing innovative and challenging recapitalization and refinancing, driving operational efficiencies through strong financial leadership, strategic planning, and leading crisis management.  Ms. Snow’s experience spans public accounting, financial services, consumer product manufacturing, and defense contracting.  She has managed Human Resources, Information Technology (IT), Finance, Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Contracting in her various roles.  Recently, she proved her mettle in taking a challenged company through a difficult 4-year operational and financial turnaround.  The problems she successfully addressed in that role included senior management changes, evolving through the defense contracting process, implementing strategic planning, and a thorough financial and operational turnaround.  Her success was demonstrated when the company sold in late 2007.

Ms. Snow began her professional career and earned her CPA at KPMG, where she spent 4 years before leaving for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role in private industry. She speaks German, most recently having relocated from Vienna, Austria, after assisting a high tech company establish its U.S. operations.  Ms. Snow has served in a number of high-level Financial-, Executive-, and Board-level roles in her more than 18 years in the San Diego area.  She is a member of numerous public and private corporate boards, as well as non-profit boards.

Bill VanDeWeghe

Mr. VanDeWeghe joined RA Capital Advisors in January 2006.  Mr. VanDeWeghe heads the firm’s defense industry team, developing strategies for clients and executing all facets of Merger and Acquisition transactions and financings.  He was previously a senior shareholder with the law firm Klinedinst PC.  During the 15 years that he practiced law, Mr. VanDeWeghe worked with a variety of corporations throughout southern California, advising executives and business leaders on numerous issues involving their companies.  He has a deep understanding of the challenges service providers and manufacturers face in contract disputes, product liability issues, partnership conflicts, and overall business operations. 

Mr. VanDeWeghe served as an artillery officer on active duty in the Army from 1983 to 1987, followed by a position commanding a firing battery in the Virginia National Guard.  He also was the Republican Party nominee for U.S. Congress, 53rd Congressional District, in 2002.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree at Princeton University and his law degree at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.  Mr. VanDeWeghe is a member of several defense-related industry groups, and is an FINRA-registered securities representative.