Neel Mehta
Rear Admiral Tim Heely (USN, ret.), a native of Belleville, Ill., is the President of Cobham Analytic Solutions (Formerly SPARTA), a subsidiary of the British defense contractor specializing in strategic defense and offense systems, tactical weapons systems, and space systems. Their intelligence products include intelligence production, computer network operations, and information assurance.
Heely graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 with a B.S. in American political systems and received an M.S. in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He has over 3500 flight hours and 850 carrier landings in his flight log and flew combat missions over Kuwait and Iraq during the first Gulf War.
Heely received his wings in 1977 and flew the A-7E Corsair II in Attack Squadrons 146 and 97 from Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California, and aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1990 he transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet, and commanded Strike Fighter Squadron 192, the “World Famous Golden Dragons”, flying from USS Midway and USS Independence, deployed at Yokosuka, Japan. Under his command, the squadron received the Commander, Naval Pacific Battle Efficiency Award, and the Estocin Award, for the top Hornet Squadron in the United States Navy. His shore duties included Commander, Light Attack Wing Pacific Flag Lieutenant; A-12 Deputy Class Desk Officer; Head, Aviation Commander Detailer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; F/A-18 Class Desk Officer and Deputy Program Manager; and Program Manager, Naval Undergraduate Jet Flight Training Systems.
In August 2000 he rose to flag rank as Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division and Naval Air Systems Command’s Assistant Commander for Research and Engineering. His terminal position was Program Executive Officer, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation in March 2004.
Heely was relieved by Rear Adm. William E. Shannon on March 25, 2008, and was named President of SPARTA soon thereafter. SPARTA was purchased by Cobham, plc. on March 29, 2009 and rebranded Cobham Analytic Solutions on March 31.
