Areté Officers

Dr. Curt Harkless has extensive experience in the areas of engineering management, image processing, pattern recognition, and interpretation of physical phenomena. He led the design, development, and real-time implementation of complex algorithms for fingerprint identification, and he has been awarded several patents describing the implementation of such algorithms. Dr. Harkless leads the Phenomenology, Algorithms and Software Division with major locations in Northridge, California, and Arlington, Virginia.

Mr. David Kane has over 23 years of experience in the design, development, and manufacture of airborne and space-based imaging and sensor systems. In addition to developing mission planning and ground-image exploitation stations, he has held a variety of systems engineering and program management positions. At Areté, he has played the lead systems role on major Department of Defense (DoD) reconnaissance programs. He also is in charge of other micro-photonics MEMS-based programs, such as the ongoing Afocal MEMS Beam Steering initiatives for IRCM and Laser BeamRider countermeasures. Mr. Kane leads the Sensor, Sources and Systems Division with a major location in Tucson, Arizona.

Mr. David Campion has an M.S. in Optical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and he has over 15 years experience in remote sensing, image processing, and application development. He has led several significant efforts that have resulted in transitioning unique capabilities to the intelligence community. Mr. Campion directs the California Operations in Northridge in the Phenomenology, Algorithms and Software Division.

Mr. Christopher Choi has over twenty years experience in the financial management of companies in both the defense and aerospace industries. Work experience includes Boeing Commercial Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream, and Applied Signal Technology (formerly Dynamics Technology). Mr. Choi has extensive background in financial analysis, system implementation, project management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Dr. Doug DeProspo leads the Arlington and Chantilly, Virginia locations of the Phenomenology, Algorithms and Software Division. With nearly 20 years of experience in technical management across a broad spectrum of R&D efforts, he is an expert in the application and physics-based interpretation of electro-optic, radar, acoustic and magnetic remote sensing. His major focus is directing the design, development and implementation of innovative capabilities to produce new sources and methods for the Intelligence and DoD communities.

Mr. Randy Potter is the Chief Scientist at Aretè Associates, and he guides the development and exploitation of innovative and disruptive technologies for the company. He has extensive experience on a wide range of signal detection and pattern recognition principles. In addition to managing Areté innovation, he participates on numerous government panels and serves as senior adviser for several Navy programs. At Aretè, Mr. Potter also serves as the Ethics Program Director.

Mr. Don Wurzel has over 30 years experience in National Security Affairs. He joined Areté after retiring from the U.S. Navy in 1995. Since joining Areté, he has run the National Security Studies and Analysis Program, providing senior-level analysis, red teaming, CONOPS development, warfare-experimentation concept development, studies and analysis and simulation support to clients in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. During a seven-month leave of absence, he also served as a senior member of the staff on the President’s Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (the WMD Commission).