Mitch Herbets, Chief Executive Officer and President

Mitch Herbets joined Thales Communications in 1987 and has served the company in a number of senior executive positions, including leadership roles in program management, engineering, and business development. Since his appointment as President and CEO in 2000, the company has grown from one to four facilities.

Prior to joining Thales, Mr. Herbets' career included four years of service with the U.S. Army with the final rank of captain and roles as program manager for Magnavox (now Raytheon) and project engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mr. Herbets is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Technology Council of Maryland (TCM). An active member of TCM, Mr. Herbets has also served as head of the organization's annual awards committee. He has been a member of Leadership Montgomery, an organization of leaders in Montgomery County, Maryland, who are involved in local community issues. In 2004, Mr. Herbets was selected as a recipient of the Annual Maryland International Business Leadership Award, presented by the World Trade Center Institute and its state partner, Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development. He was also honored by Ernst and Young as part of their Entrepreneur of the Year Program in 2002.

Mr. Herbets was awarded a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering by Lehigh University and a master's degree in business administration by George Washington University.

Walt Hepker, Vice President, Business Development

Walt Hepker joined Thales Communications in 2006. Since that time, he has served in two key roles: first, as Vice President of Program Management from 2006-2007, and currently as Vice President of Business Development. As Vice President of Business Development, Mr. Hepker develops and executes the company’s business development strategies and leads the day-to-day operations of the business development department. In his previous role as Vice President of Program Management, he was responsible for the successful execution of all development, production, and customer support programs.

Prior to joining Thales, Mr. Hepker spent 28 years with Rockwell Collins, serving in key program management and business development leadership positions, principally in the military airborne and ground communications markets. He was instrumental in extending the company’s Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) success into the international arena. Mr. Hepker has participated as a member and officer in many industry associations, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, National Defense Industry Association, United States Naval Institute, and American Defense Preparedness Association. He was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree from Wartburg College with a double major in business administration and accounting.