TS/SCI Cleared
James Stroup
Head of Growth for AQNav at
SandboxAQ — a Google X spin-out building
quantum-enabled, GPS-denied navigation. 16+ years turning advanced R&D into fielded, operational capability.
Selected Highlights
◆USAF Scientist/Engineer of the Year — rapidly solved a critical issue enabling the GPS-IIF-2 satellite launch
◆Built AFTAC's real-time AI/ML analytics platform processing billions of samples/sec — highlighted at Georgetown Nuclear Security Summit
◆Generated $8.2M pipeline and won a $1.8M sole-source contract in 8 months at ENSCO
◆Led the 4-year capture effort that secured a prototype OTA with DISA
◆Architected $10M+ in SIGINT/ISR programs at Rohde & Schwarz for DHS, FBI, USCPD, and all military branches
◆Aided SpaceX in redesigning the Dragon capsule's S-Band telemetry receiver
Career
2025 —
Head of Growth, AQNav
SandboxAQ
Leading go-to-market for quantum-enabled GPS-denied navigation. Connecting resilient PNT technology with defense agencies, military operators, and commercial partners.
2022 — 25
Senior Director → Director, Advanced Systems
Bascom Hunter
Built a new portfolio spanning RF Systems (SIGINT/ELINT) and neuromorphic processors. Three promotions in under three years.
2022
Senior Staff Scientist / Principal Investigator
ENSCO Avionics
$8.2M pipeline, $1.8M sole-source win. Improved ML precision from 60.1% → 92.8%. Built a CEO-ranked #2 real-time sensor analytics platform on AWS.
2019 — 22
Chief, Exploitation & Development → R&D Portfolio Manager
AFTAC
AI/ML prototypes for nuclear treaty monitoring. Real-time platform processing billions of samples/sec. $5.4M budget growth. Founded multi-agency ML working group. SME on $36M source-selection board.
2016 — 19
Senior Development Engineer
United States Air Force
Signal processing and data acquisition architectures. Aided SpaceX on Dragon capsule S-Band redesign. $2M+ RF monitoring deployment. Chaired RF Environment Working Group.
2012 — 15
Systems Engineer, SIGINT/ISR
Rohde & Schwarz
$10M+ in delivered SIGINT programs using SDRs and correlative interferometry arrays. Customers: DHS, FBI, USCPD, all military branches.
2008 — 12
Lead Spacecraft Systems Engineer
United States Air Force
Lead government engineer for GPS IIF/III, WGS, SBIRS, and X-37B satellite launches. Won USAF Scientist/Engineer of the Year.
Credentials
M.S., Space Systems Operations
Naval Postgraduate School
B.S., Electrical Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
PMP
Project Management Professional
DAWIA Engineering III
Defense Acquisition Workforce
Publications
Open-Source Nuclear Detection System (OSNDS)
ML architecture for nuclear monitoring operations. Highlighted at Georgetown University 2020 Nuclear Security Summit as an emerging technology.
NPSAT1: Assessment of Risk for Human Casualty from Atmospheric Reentry
Orbital debris risk assessment and compliance with DoD/NASA guidelines for surface strike limitations.