Metis Technology Solutions of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has named its first Vice President, Space and IRAD Programs. He has an impressive list of credentials...

James (Jim) Theiss, 
Frank Frost photography

James (Jim) Theiss is Metis' first Vice President, Space and IRAD Programs. Jim, age 49, is a former U.S. Air Force officer who is driving the successful performance of this fast-growing space mission support company. 

Jim currently manages Metis work at several NASA centers and at the U.S. Air Force Material Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). He also oversees the company’s research and development activity at its Albuquerque, New Mexico facility, which is performing innovative software projects for cybersecurity and flight safety funded by both the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA.  

Joy Colucci, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Metis said that as Metis builds its customer base and delves into exciting software tool development, they are broadening their senior management team to keep pace with the scope of projects in progress. Jim Theiss is a highly capable engineer who has already proven his skill as a senior leader. Joy has the greatest confidence in his ability to track and harmonize their many competing priorities.

Jim was previously Space Division Manager for Metis, which he joined in 2016 after retiring as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. As Division Manager he provided day-to-day management of three NASA projects which provide support at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Ames and for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center at its White Sands Test Facility. He also managed two projects for the U.S. Air Force including support for Air Force Material Command KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker, and AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate Engineering and Integration. 

Before joining Metis, Jim had a 23-year career with the U.S. Air Force. As a Developmental Engineer and Acquisition Management his assignments included Deputy Division Lead for the Space Electro-Optics Division, Air Force Research Lab Directed Energy Directorate, Deputy Director of Air Force Inspection Agency analysis and training, and Chief of Technology Development for the Space and Missile Systems Center. He also held several engineering management positions and was a mission unique acquisition manager for aircraft and weapon flight testing. 

Jim, who is an AIAA Senior Member, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in Military Operational Art from Air University.

Metis, which was named one of the fastest growing technology companies in New Mexico, was also a contract winner at the U.S. Air Force Pitch Day, a “Shark Tank” type event held last March to award Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts using a streamlined evaluation process. Based on its next-generation cybersecurity technology, the company was accepted into the Air Force Technology Accelerator class of 2019.