Title: Program and Operations Manager
Company: Southwest Range Services
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Patrick R. Coughlin, MBA, Program and Operations Manager at Southwest Range Services, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Military and Defense.
Mr. Coughlin, a leading expert in military defense, joined Southwest Range Services in 2021 as a business manager. His success led to his promotion to operations manager in 2020, where he continues to serve, and as a program manager since 2024. Mr. Coughlin’s roles encompass overseeing the Mission Support Services contract at White Sands Missile Range, managing a roughly $390 billion budget and 330 employees that report directly to him, managing daily operations of testing weapon systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, and coordinating testing for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Mr. Coughlin’s expertise in building and managing teams, problem-solving skills, engineering background and the dynamics of the industry have been pivotal to his success.
Leveraging his previous experience, Mr. Coughlin was recruited to Southwest Range Services from TRAX International, where he served as an information technology and communications manager from 2010 to 2011 and then as an operations manager of field services until 2020. Earlier in his career, Mr. Coughlin excelled as a management information system manager for the New Mexico Technology Group LLC between 1997 and 2010.
Possessing a rich educational background, Mr. Coughlin received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration from New Mexico State University in 2008. Becoming highly qualified in his industry, he received several professional credentials, including as a Microsoft-certified systems engineer, a project management professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI) Inc., a Lean Six Sigma black belt through Air Academy Associates and a Security+ce credential through CompTIA Inc. Mr. Coughlin attributes many of his work-related achievements to his extensive education and unwavering commitment to continuous learning. His desire to constantly explore new technologies has also enabled him to innovate within his industry.
Active in his professional community, Mr. Coughlin is a member of PMI and the International Test and Evaluation Association. Civically involved, some of his most notable contributions included serving as a past president and coach for a local youth soccer organization in Alamogordo, New Mexico, for 10 Years and as a past president for a local nonprofit organization that raised funds to support families in crisis.
Among numerous career accomplishments, Mr. Coughlin’s involvement in leading the National Counterterrorism/Counterinsurgency Integrated Test and Evaluation Center during his tenure at TRAX International is a testament to his hard work and dedication to saving lives. Furthermore, his contributions to developing the Open Book financial reporting system for the U.S. government in 2000 while working for the New Mexico Technology Group LLC were particularly noteworthy. The system was built using relational database platforms and HTML scripting languages and provided critical financial information to government decision-makers in real-time.
As he looks forward to the future, Mr. Coughlin envisions revolutionizing testing within his industry and continuing to cultivate a workforce capable of introducing innovative technology to the industry. Moreover, Mr. Coughlin remains steadfast about giving back, reflecting a deep commitment to service over self-promotion that underscores his dedication to making a meaningful impact in his field and supporting those who protect the country.
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