Member’s Corner: Tom Jarboe
Name, Title, Organization:
Tom Jarboe, CEO / President, AIRtec, Inc.
Explain your background in economic development:
Drive a lot of economic development around St. Mary’s Airport (2W6) as a major employer and plank owner tenant. Former SMC County Commissioner who served with a major emphasis on public/private partnerships to increase economic growth within our County.
What are your key priorities within your current position?
Lead a $60M business with global operations employing over 120 employees with tax revenues based in St. Mary’s County, MD. Does one particular project spark your excitement? If so, describe it below. The SMC AeroPark Innovation District at 2W6.
What professional pressures keep you up at night?
Global mission-based operations (counter-terrorism, counter-narcotrafficking and international stability operations surrounding Ukraine). We have AIRtec personnel operating around the globe in harms way for the betterment of the United States.
What attributes are unique to your community?
Rural atmosphere with global impact.
What are your locality’s top three “selling points” for future growth?
- Co-location with US Navy Aviation Requisition (NAVAIR) command and the US Navy Aquisition Warfare Center Aviation Directorate (NAWCAD).
- Development of the AeroPark Innovation District
- Co-location with the Chesapeake Unmanned Route Network (CURN)
If you could wave a magic wand, what would you want to work with MEDA on to move Maryland forward?
The AeroPark Innovation District.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with MEDA and your fellow members?
Whether acting in my role as entrepreneur, business owner or locally elected official, I have a passion for the betterment of my community at St. Mary’s County via smart economic development.
Please include any personal background information that you’d like to share (Alma mater, Military Service, hobbies, etc):
Tom Jarboe is the CEO and President of AIRtec, Incorporated. Previous to this position he was President of Kieyos, LLC, an international trade company he established in 2014 and President and CEO of Technology Security Associates, Inc. which he established and led from 2002-2014. Tom is well-known in the international trade industry for his expertise in International Traffic in Arms (Department of State) and Export Administration and Regulations (Department of Commerce) licensing, Customs brokering, freight forwarding and international business trade development.
Tom is also a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He has over 30 years of DoD and international business experience, holds Bachelor and Master of Science (International Commerce) degrees from the University of Maryland, and is a graduate of Leadership Maryland (2006). Tom is a certified professional in ITAR export compliance (ECoP-ITAR).
Tom served as Commissioner, District-1 for St. Mary’s County from 2014-2018. In 2013, Tom was chosen as the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year. An active leader in the community, he has served as President of the Board of Directors for Leadership Southern Maryland, Chairman of the Board of the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce, co-chair of the St. Mary’s County Local Emergency Planning Commission and counselor for the Wounded Warrior Initiative at Fort Meade. He has served as a board member of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance and co-chair of the SMNA BRAC Committee. He also was a member of the BRAC Business Initiative in Howard County, Baltimore Council for Foreign Affairs, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Patuxent Partnership, the World Trade Center Institute, and the Washington International Trade Association. Mr. Jarboe also volunteers his time as lead instructor for the Veterans Institute of Procurement (VIP) located in Montgomery County, facilitating international business instruction, assisting US Military Veteran entrepreneurs in penetrating the international market.
