PhD, MBA (Stanford University), BSAE (Princeton University) 

MSE (George Washington University)

Dr. Sliwa has been CEO of Insitu since 2001, helping guide it from 4 to more than 700 employees 

and $128 million in revenue in 2008. Also in 2008, Dr. Sliwa led Insitu to be acquired by The Boeing 

Company. This was a strategic move to further strengthen the company’s position as a global leader 

in the unmanned systems market. 

Dr. Sliwa initiated his career at NASA, starting as a researcher in control theory and aircraft design and 

ultimately becoming deputy chief for the Guidance & Control Division at Langley Research Center. 

He founded one of the first PC-based educational software firms, selling it prior to attending 

business school. He then joined Integrated Systems, Inc (ISI) as Vice President of product 

development, producing tools for control system design. He helped lead ISI to a successful IPO in 1990, 

and to high rankings among 1991 tech stocks for profitability and growth. 

From 1991 to 1998, Dr. Sliwa served as the third president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,

which serves more than 18,000 students. During his tenure, revenues, endowments, and capital 

programs doubled as he led a team that grew industry connections, military-based education outreach, 

aeronautical research, residential campus activities, and academic programs. At that time, he was the 

youngest university president in the United States. Each year during his tenure he taught an honors 

course in entrepreneurship and leadership. 

Dr. Sliwa was CEO until 1999 of New Colt Holding Corp, a defense manufacturer (Colt’s Manufacturing) 
also trying to develop a consumer "smart gun" for which he has a patent. He founded Capital Synergy 

Partners in 2000 to provide interim executive management for several new ventures including Platform7

in London (smart cards) and eRevenue in Atlanta (ecommerce factoring).

Dr. Sliwa earned his PhD in aerospace engineering (dynamics and controls) and a Sloan MBA from 

Stanford University. Previously he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from 

Princeton University and George Washington University, respectively. Sliwa’s academic recognitions 

include two honorary doctorates. 

Dr. Sliwa is a flight instructor (CFI ASMELG) and former FAA designated flight examiner with more than 

3,000 hours in airplanes and sailplanes. He has been active as a board member for charitable activities 

and previously served on the Gorge Technology Alliance.