About Mark

Technical Leader • Builder • Problem Solver

Air Force enlisted to GS-14 federal program leader, with a habit of setting a goal, doing the work, and shipping the result.

Real-World Experience

I bring 20+ years in the federal sector, from enlisted Air Force service to senior program leadership at the FDA, and a pattern of finishing what I start: degrees earned while working full-time, complex federal programs delivered, and production software designed, built, and shipped on my own initiative.

Background Summary

  • Military Foundation - U.S. Air Force veteran who understands discipline, service, and mission-critical system reliability
  • Federal Program Leadership - GS-14 program manager and COR III at the FDA, leading modernization initiatives that serve 400+ regulatory scientists
  • Product Leadership - Translating ambiguous business problems into clear product strategies, roadmaps, and measurable outcomes. Certified Scrum Product Owner (scrum.org)
  • Builder - Ships real AWS systems in production (not just cert prep) and iOS apps on the App Store; see Projects for details
  • Cloud Architecture - Pursuing AWS Solutions Architect – Associate certification (SAA-C03) on the same services I run in production

Mark Gingrass

Core Strengths

Military Service

U.S. Air Force veteran who learned the value of discipline, teamwork, and getting the mission done right the first time.

Federal Program Delivery

Led modernization at FDA scale, with COR III authority to oversee contractor performance and hold vendors accountable. The programs I manage serve the scientists who regulate tobacco products for the entire U.S. market.

System Architecture

Computer Science and MBA graduate who designs real cloud systems: a production serverless architecture on AWS, built and deployed with CDK.

Technology Leadership

Hands-on builder who stays technically credible: AWS, TypeScript, and CDK in personal projects; AI and modern tooling directed deliberately, not leaned on.

Philosophy & Approach

What Drives Me

  • Close the gap: Government technology is consistently a decade behind where it should be. I’ve spent 20 years on that problem from the inside and I’m not done.
  • Credible at the whiteboard: A PM who can’t follow the architecture discussion is a bottleneck. I stay technical enough to be useful, not just present.
  • Ship, then improve: A deployed imperfect system beats a perfect plan still in review. I’ve seen both and know which one moves the mission.
  • Build for whoever comes next: Federal programs outlast their PMs. Decisions I make today will be maintained by people who weren’t in the room. I design with that in mind.

“Great architecture isn’t about using the latest technology; it’s about building systems that are reliable, scalable, and maintainable for the long term.”

The Path Here

Humble Beginnings

Started with paper routes and McDonald’s, learning that every job teaches you something valuable about work ethic and problem-solving.

Military Service

U.S. Air Force service taught discipline, attention to detail, and how to work under pressure with mission-critical systems.

Education & Growth

Earned degrees in Computer Science and MBA while working full-time, proving that learning never stops and skills build on each other.

Federal Leadership

Reached GS-14 and earned COR III certification at the FDA, managing programs with real contractor accountability. Led product strategy for modernization systems that serve the scientists who regulate tobacco products for the entire U.S. market.

Modern Architecture

Set out to build a real cloud product and shipped PetShots, a serverless AWS platform running in production, along with iOS apps on the App Store.

The AI Era

Operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and high-stakes federal product work. Building agentic workflows, applying prompt engineering as a product discipline, and championing AI-powered solutions that unlock decades of trapped regulatory data, while most organizations are still figuring out what to ask the chatbot.

Beyond the Code

Outdoor Enthusiast

Active hiker who tackles steep climbs and overnighters. Mountain biking and skateboarding keep things interesting. My partially built-out van sees weekend vanlifer adventures.

Trail Buddy

Ollie, my Golden Retriever, is my constant companion on trails and road trips. He’s got better trail instincts than most humans I know.

Lifelong Learner

Fascinated by how systems, organizational or technical, succeed or fail. Always looking for the more efficient path.

Current Focus