Mr. Kurtz is the Program Executive Officer, Air Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW), Assault and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)).  He oversees the acquisition and total life cycle support for a diverse range of products, including Tactical Airlift (PMA-207), Heavy Lift Helicopters (PMA-261), Air ASW Systems (PMA-264), Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications (PMA-271), Presidential Helicopters (PMA-274), V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), Light/Attack Helicopters (PMA-276), Maritime Patrol & Reconnaissance Aircraft (PMA-290), Multi-Mission Helicopters (PMA-299), and Advanced Sensors Technology.

Previously, Mr. Kurtz served as the Program Executive Officer for Aviation Common Systems and Commercial Services (PEO(CS)) from October 2019 to August 2022, where he was responsible for the development, acquisition, delivery, and sustainment of a $13 billion portfolio.

Mr. Kurtz began his career in 1984 joining Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as a logistics manager for Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.  Supporting allied nations for the next 11 years, Mr. Kurtz became the Product Support Team Leader overseeing all fixed wing and rotary wing FMS programs.  In 1995, Mr. Kurtz joined the F/A-18 Program Office (PMA-265) as the Operations Officer for F/A-18C/D.  Two years later, he became the Principal Deputy Program Manager for the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273), leading the acquisition and sustainment of the U.S. Navy’s T-45 and T-6 programs.

From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Kurtz led the delivery of all corporate service programs for the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), as the Director of Corporate Operations, and from 2004 to 2007 as NAVAIR’s Deputy Assistant Commander for Corporate Operations.  In 2007, Mr. Kurtz joined the Senior Executive Service as the NAVAIR Assistant Commander for Corporate Operations.

Mr. Kurtz served as the Assistant Commander for Acquisition for NAVAIR, from May 2015 to September 2019.  He was responsible for the executive management of six aviation program offices, and led NAVAIR’s national-level Program Management Competency, providing policy, business processes, tools, and skilled program professionals for programs across Naval Aviation.

Mr. Kurtz holds a Master’s in Management from Florida Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

His individual awards include the Navy Certificate of Acquisition Excellence in 1998, Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards in 2000 and 2004, and the Coast Guard Civilian Commendation Medal in 2019. He and his teams have also earned six NAVAIR Commanders Awards for Acquisition and Business Excellence.