Who We Are

Founded by engineers and operators, Thunderbolt Solutions embodies a philosophy of relentless problem-solving, encapsulated in their motto “find a way or make one.” This approach is integral to their business ethos, driving them to excel in the face of technical, programmatic, or resource challenges. Thunderbolt passionately delivers innovative solutions to both defense and commercial markets, free from bureaucratic constraints.

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Our Story

Founded by engineers and operators, Thunderbolt Solutions, a certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, embodies a philosophy of relentless problem-solving, encapsulated in their motto “find a way or make one.” This approach is integral to their business ethos, driving them to excel in the face of technical, programmatic, or resource challenges. Thunderbolt passionately delivers innovative solutions to both defense and commercial markets, free from bureaucratic constraints.

Our Leadership

Joe Buss – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Joe is the Chief Executive Officer for Thunderbolt. His focus is leading Thunderbolt’s strategic development to ensure we’re positioned to solve customers’ problems at scale. He joined the company in January 2021.

Mr. Buss has almost 25 years of leadership and A&D experience. Prior to joining Thunderbolt, his most recent role was Senior Vice President at Mission Solutions & Agile Decision Sciences, LLC, where he supported the development of mission-management and integrated decision-support systems. After leaving active duty with the Marines, he worked for Lockheed Martin in various engineering and programmatic leadership positions. Following his time at Lockheed Martin, Joe assumed the role of leading Lockheed Martin’s software supplier, ASRC Federal Mission Solutions.

A native of Moorestown, NJ, Mr. Buss graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and obtained an MS in Engineering Management from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He continued his executive education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Business. Joe serves on the Board of Trustees for both the United States Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Programs and for the United States Coast Guard Foundation.

Andrew Winkler – FOUNDER

Andrew is the founder and chief technical officer for Thunderbolt Solutions, LLC. He founded Thunderbolt Solutions in 2016 and has led the company through an incredible period of growth; Thunderbolt ranked 94th on Inc. 5000’s 2020 list of fast-growing private companies.

Mr. Winkler has more than 25 years of system and software engineering experience working in the management, design, development, and fielding of large-scale real-time combat systems. He started his career at Lockheed Martin and held positions of increasing responsibility from systems engineer to lead system architect for the US Navy’s Aegis Open Architecture Program to technical director for the F-35’s Open System Computing architecture Refresh effort.

A native of New Jersey, Mr. Winkler graduated from the University of Vermont with an MS in Physics.

Jose Mercado – CHIEF ADMINISTRTATIVE

Jose oversees the organizational dynamics of Thunderbolt Solutions and serves as the president of Thunderbolt Logistics, a division specializing in last-mile deliveries in collaboration with Amazon. Since joining the company in December 2018, he has been instrumental in developing and managing Thunderbolt Solutions, with a focus on achieving high performance and establishing robust logistics operations. With over 28 years of industry experience, Mr. Mercado previously held the position of Director of Operations and Infrastructure at ASRC Federal Mission Solutions. His career encompasses significant roles in program management, business development, and operations, including leadership in international logistics during his service with the US Marine Corps and in Colombian mining operations. A native of New Jersey, Mr. Mercado holds a BS in English from the United States Naval Academy and an MS in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Redefining Tomorrow’s Solutions Today

Choosing the right partner for your defense and commercial needs is crucial, and Thunderbolt Solutions stands out for several compelling reasons. Here’s why we are above the rest:

^Innovative Engineering Expertise: Specializing in cutting-edge solutions for complex defense and commercial systems.
^Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with industry leaders like Amazon to integrate best practices.
^Extensive Experience: Bringing years of operational and engineering mission-system expertise.
^Bureaucracy-Free Approach: Ensuring efficient, unencumbered progress in project development and execution.

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