Navteca, a pioneering technology company specializing in emerging technologies and IT innovation, has selected Hector Collazo to serve as its new president. Collazo, who most recently served as chief technology officer for IPTA — where he led strategic modernization initiatives across artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud infrastructure, and automation, supporting mission-critical government programs — brings over 20 years of experience in federal technology modernization, including roles supporting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

"We're incredibly excited to welcome Hector to Navteca. For more than a decade, Navteca has created practical applications based on new and emerging technology to help fulfill customers' needs, solve real-world problems, and use technology for good," said Shayna Solis, co-founder and CEO of Navteca. "His leadership style, strategic thinking, and ability to build and scale innovative technology programs align perfectly with Navteca's vision for growth. Hector has a unique ability to connect cutting-edge technology with real-world mission impact, and that's exactly what we need as the company continues to grow."

As president, Collazo will oversee corporate strategy, partnerships, and operations, and help Navteca scale its footprint across NASA, the DoD, and other federal science and defense agencies. He will play a key role in expanding Navteca's offerings in artificial intelligence, cloud-native development, data science and data visualization tools.

"I'm honored to join such a forward-thinking and mission-driven team," said Collazo. "Navteca has built a reputation for innovation and impact. I look forward to working alongside co-founders Shayna and Ramon, and the incredible team here to grow our capabilities and deliver meaningful results for our customers."

Collazo holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology from the University of Puerto Rico.

Prior to IPTA, Collazo served as chief technology officer for Sev1Tech and director of technology for Agile Defense, exhibiting a talent for fostering innovation and achieving tangible results. His ability to align strategic thinking with practical technological solutions has left an indelible mark on the organizations he's served, establishing him as a respected authority in the field. His dedication to driving progress through technology and his deep-rooted commitment to empowering clients with transformative solutions make him an invaluable asset to Navteca as it serves evolving customer needs.

Navteca has created practical applications through artificial intelligence and machine learning, high- performance computing, data analytics, and advanced visualization. The company's secure conversational AI for enterprise, government and science, Voice Atlas, is used by NASA, the D.C. Government, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. Voice Atlas also powered the Western Fire Chiefs Association's After Action Report for the Maui wildfires, providing actionable insights to improve wildfire response and preparedness. In analyzing the devastating Hermit's Peak Fire of 2022, Navteca combined real-time 3D geospatial wildfire data with Voice Atlas to help government agencies and wildfire teams better understand fire behavior and strengthen preparedness efforts.