James Merrill

National Imagery Program Manager – FPAC-GEO, USDA
(Principal Product Leader in scope and duties)
Cloud Modernization | Data Platforms | AI-Ready Architecture

I specialize in transforming legacy systems into cloud-native, AI-ready platforms at national scale. As National Imagery Program Manager for USDA FPAC, I led a portfolio of 6 national product lines with dual deliverables through a 16 PB AWS migration, delivering:

• 1 PB+ annual ingestion throughput across 5 national endpoints
• 75% faster delivery (cycle time reduced from 12 months to 90 days)
• 99.9%+ reliability with zero service degradation during migration
• $3M annual cost savings through intelligent storage tiering and lifecycle automation
• $12.8M modernization investment secured, unlocking $50M–$250M downstream enterprise value
• Authored $180M fiscal and technical framework, managing $30M/year contract authority
• Leadership of 5–10 concurrent cross-functional teams and a 7-vendor ecosystem, fully remote since 2020

Technical & Strategic Highlights:

• Migrated 22-year legacy systems to AWS cloud-native architecture
• Delivered AI-ready pipelines (COG/STAC compliance) and data mesh architecture
• Established governance frameworks (Change Control Board, metadata standards, ingestion SLAs)
• Supported multi-agency missions (USGS, FEMA, NRCS) and disaster recovery programs

I thrive in roles demanding platform-scale vision, financial stewardship, and cross-org influence—from fintech and payments platforms to AI-driven enterprise solutions.

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National Imagery Program Manager – FPAC-GEO, USDA
(Principal Product Leader in scope and duties)
Cloud Modernization | Data Platforms | AI-Ready Architecture

With 29 years of combined federal and military experience, I specialize in transforming legacy systems into cloud-native, AI-ready platforms at national scale. As National Imagery Program Manager for USDA FPAC, I led a portfolio of 6 national product lines with dual deliverables through a 16 PB AWS migration, delivering:

• 1 PB+ annual ingestion throughput across 5 national endpoints
• 75% faster delivery (cycle time reduced from 12 months to 90 days)
• 99.9%+ reliability with zero service degradation during migration
• $3M annual cost savings through intelligent storage tiering and lifecycle automation
• $12.8M modernization investment secured, unlocking $50M–$250M downstream enterprise value
• Authored $180M fiscal and technical framework, managing $30M/year contract authority
• Leadership of 5–10 concurrent cross-functional teams and a 7-vendor ecosystem, fully remote since 2020

Technical & Strategic Highlights:

• Migrated 22-year legacy systems to AWS cloud-native architecture
• Delivered AI-ready pipelines (COG/STAC compliance) and data mesh architecture
• Established governance frameworks (Change Control Board, metadata standards, ingestion SLAs)
• Supported multi-agency missions (USGS, FEMA, NRCS) and disaster recovery programs

United States Navy – Quartermaster Chief Petty Officer (ret.)
1997-2020
Highlights:

• Led mission-critical operations and technology initiatives under high-stakes conditions.
• Managed multi-million-dollar assets and teams across global deployments.
• Developed leadership, risk management, and compliance expertise foundational to enterprise-scale programs.

Bachelor of Science, University of Phoenix 

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FAC-P/PM Level III – Federal Acquisition Certification for Program & Project Managers
Signifies mastery in acquisition governance, lifecycle management, and fiscal oversight for large-scale federal programs.

Additional Highlights:

• 29 years combined federal and military experience
• Expertise in $180M fiscal frameworks and $30M/year contract authority
• Advanced leadership in modernization and compliance-driven environments