2017 I/ITSEC - 8250

Don Ariel
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Raydon Corporation


Don Ariel is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Raydon Corporation, a trailblazer in science-based virtual reality training used by soldiers in training locations globally. Over his long career, Mr. Ariel has been a staunch advocate for acquisition reforms that promote innovation and efficiency. By doing what is best for the soldier and taxpayer, Don consistently strives to disrupt the status quo and create thought-provoking, innovative solutions and resourcing for military training. As a schooled engineer, Don possesses a rare blend and balance of deep technical understanding and an innovative business mindset. He was recruited straight out of college into the single largest and most boldly ambitious simulation program the U.S. Army had ever executed, the Conduct of Fire Trainer (COFT). Don’s mission was to deploy, install, and maintain this complex infrastructure. His years at General Electric shaped his thinking about the purpose and value of simulation. Along with his partners, he built a market-aligned operation with an innovation pipeline. Mr. Ariel continues to shape discussions about how a holistic view of training infrastructures, combined with open standards and industry collaboration, impacts quality, cost and efficiency of military training for total force readiness. Don’s personal and professional interests center around understanding and improving human performance. His contagious enthusiasm and expertise on this subject is what fuels his passion as a tech visionary, futurist, thought leader, executive, trailblazer and entrepreneur. Mr. Ariel is passionate about helping to shape new standards, new breakthroughs, new frontiers and new ways to train humans – especially for those risking their lives for us.

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