Michelle Stanley – Chief Operating Officer

Michelle Stanley has over a decade of experience in government contracting. She started in the industry providing onsite training and assessments to government clients across the country. From there, she transitioned into leadership roles with Lockheed Martin, providing project management and team lead oversight to numerous government projects where she was recognized for outstanding achievements, receiving both a Special Recognition Award (SRA) and two SPOT awards.

Michelle Stanley is engaged with the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She also maintains membership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and attends numerous small business sessions to continue to learn and help to expand Firebird AST.

She joined Firebird AST in 2016 as the Director of Human Resources and Recruiting and quickly helped to grow the company from 16 employees to nearly 30 in her first year. Michelle Stanley helped to implement human resources and compliance programs and in December 2016 was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s daily operations.   

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Marketing and a Minor in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She then went on to earn a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Organizational and Interpersonal Communication from Arizona State University. In the community, Michelle Stanley gives time to several non-profit organizations. She is married and lives with her husband and two young children in Northern Virginia.