Tom Kunkel is the Vice President of Operations at Karman Space & Defense.  He has over 10+ years of leadership experience in aerospace engineering, operations, and program management.  He plays a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations, ensuring optimal performance, and driving strategic growth initiatives.

Mr. Kunkel has developed and executed business plans for highly regulated companies in North America and Europe.  He enjoys building teams that focus on employee safety, customer on-time-delivery and continuous improvement. He most recently served as the Vice President of Operations for Hartwell Corporation. Prior to joining Hartwell, Mr. Kunkel held leadership roles at Precision Cast Corp. and Schlumberger.

Mr. Kunkel obtained his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from University of Oklahoma.  Additionally, he holds an APICS CSCP Certification and completed an Executive Education Course at the USC Marshall School of Business.