The CEO: Bio & Professional Profile

Thomas Merrell, MBA

CEO & Executive Director

A United States Navy veteran and current graduate student, I am based in the United States and Thailand. I am the owner and managing director of Light-Year Enterprises. As a dedicated part of Company Staff, I also act as the lead consultant within the Company, as well as the primary point of contact for any clients looking for such services.

I am experienced in aiding the process of developing organizations in businesses, with significant additional training in aiding firms looking to lend meaning to their ESG efforts beyond compliance. Most of my clients are either individuals, or they are leaders within small businesses looking to improve their life's work. My business aims to help those who are looking to sharpen their organizations in preparation for major expansions or their search for venture capital.


Professional Profile

­A US Navy veteran, I am interested in global space and science policy, as well as in multinational organization management, astrobiology, environmental science, and related topics in manned space exploration. I am a subject matter expert in talent development, team building, strategic management, operations management, and supply chain engineering. I also have extensive training in environmental and natural sciences, organizational management and change, international business development, financial management, process improvement, organizational brand strategy, and systems engineering design.

Specialties

Supply Chain Engineering & Management

­­Science & Business Management

­­Organizational Development

Operations Management

­Quantitative & Qualitative Research

­Administrative Process Improvement



Education

Master of Global Affairs, 2023 (in progress)

(9 credits completed; Switched from Space Studies)

Rice University | Houston, TX


Master of Space Studies (incomplete; 2020-2021)

(15 credits completed; switched to another major)

­Rice University | Houston, TX

Bachelor of Science, Natural Science, 2020

Environmental Science

­Excelsior College | Tokyo, Japan; San Antonio Area, TX

­Master of Business Administration, 2018

Global Business & Organizational Leadership

­Hult Int’l Business School | Dubai, UAE; Shanghai, China

­Bachelor of Science, Liberal Arts, 2017

History & Business Management

­Excelsior College | San Antonio Area, TX

Professional Experience


Light-Year Enterprises

July 2021-Present

CEO, Executive Director -- Managed all finances and business activity within the Company in support of its clients and their objectives.

Founder; CEO & Executive Director

  • Conduct business as an independent consultant prior to formally launching the company in March 2022.

  • Maintain all of the Company's finances, business, and contacts.

  • Manage all benefits and expenses for Staff and Associates on duty.

  • Vigilantly maintain the onboarding and management of all personnel within the Company.

  • Act as the lead consultant for the Company, gathering curating, and compiling research for clients .



United States Navy -- San Diego, CA

December 2012 - October 2016

Operations Specialist -- Managed real-time tactical and navigational data in support of command objectives while at sea from 2013 to 2016.

Petty Officer Third Class:

  • ­Supported operations, training, and junior sailors' leadership development, contributing to passing scores for all certifications on both commands in preparation for their 2015 and 2016 deployments.

  • Supervised teams of 4-12 personnel, depending on the assignment.

  • Maintained all supply chain and financial needs for Operations Division on board USS Somerset. Personally rebuilt the supply chain system used by the division from scratch, saving over $15,000 in inventory expenses. Managed over 10,000 items during FY 2016 with zero inventory errors.

  • Gathered and disseminated real-time operational intelligence to key command personnel during all shipboard emergencies in tandem with USS Somerset's in-port watch team, with zero additional personnel casualties.

  • Supported engineering certification and/or rehabilitation efforts on USS Essex and USS Somerset in preparation for their respective successful deployments in 2015 and 2016.

  • Trained over a dozen officers and sailors on technical and leadership skills on USS Somerset, contributing to effective and accident-free watch teams from 2013 to 2016.