About Us
Meet the Team
Guided by core values, we create an environment of shared success, providing innovative solutions to complex problems.
Clayton Hinchman
President & Chairman
Mr. Clayton Hinchman took over as Chairman and CEO of Ignite in May of 2020.
Prior to taking over Ignite, Clayton served in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. He medically retired as a Captain due to wounds sustained during an improvised explosive attack while conducting a night raid to kill or capture Al Qaeda in Iraq. During his Army career, he was assigned to 10th Mountain Division and Special Operations Task Force 17. He earned his Airborne and Air Assault wings, and also graduated as the Honor Graduate from the US Army Ranger School. His military decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Clayton earned his undergraduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Masters from Georgetown University, continuing executive education at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program at Babson College.
William C. Bailey, Jr.
Vice Chairman
Mr. Bill Bailey joined Radiance in 2001 and sets the strategic direction of Radiance, a more than $300M 100% employee-owned small business with core competencies in developing advanced technologies, integrating systems, performing technical intelligence, and providing engineering services to the DoD, armed services, intelligence agencies, and other U.S. Government agencies. Mr. Bailey has approximately 42 years of technical and military experience supporting various intelligence, research, information operations, electronic warfare and cyber-related projects. He also has 26 years of industry experience as a project engineer, project lead, and program manager and 14 years of military experience as a B-52 aircraft maintenance technician and Research and Development Engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) and the Phillips Laboratory, now the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Mr. Bailey graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, received a MBA from Florida Tech, and has completed several relevant courses in Intelligence, Information Operations (I/O), Cyber and Electronic Warfare (EW), as well as completed advanced courses in engineering and business management.
Darien Hammett
COO
Mr. Darien J. Hammett joined Radiance Technologies in September 2019 and is currently responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and leadership of the Defense Sector — approximately half of the employee-owners at Radiance. Darien started at Radiance as an Assistant Vice President providing direct support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Strategy Officer on developing, communicating, and realizing corporate strategy. He provided insight to, and developed strategy for, expanding markets where Radiance competes. Most recently, he led the Space Group before becoming the Executive Vice President of the Defense Sector in 2023.
Before coming to Radiance, Darien spent more than 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Colonel. He served as a Program Director twice (F-22 Raptor and RQ-4 Global Hawk) and in a variety of engineering, program management, staff, and leadership positions across the Air Force, Office of Secretary of Defense, and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of Professional Military Education at all three levels: Squadron Officer’s School, Air Command and Staff College (Distinguished Graduate), and The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
Karl Walli
EVP, National Security and Intelligence
Dr. Karl C. Walli joined Radiance in 2016 and is responsible for providing the strategic direction, corporate growth, and leadership for approximately half the employee-owners at Radiance. Dr. Walli started his career at Radiance as the Director of R&D Operations and was selected to lead the National Technical Intelligence Group before becoming the Executive Vice President of the National Security Sector in 2022.
Before joining Radiance, Dr. Walli spent over 25 years working in the DoD community as an active duty Air Force officer and retired as a Colonel running half of the NRO/AS&T portfolio as the Director of the Advanced Technology Office. Dr. Walli is a graduate of Michigan Technological University where he received his BS in Electrical Engineering. He also received an MS in Strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University along with an MS in Imaging Science and a PhD in Imaging Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Nancy Koger
EVP, Space and Hypersonics
Mrs. Nancy Koger joined Ignite as a Program Manager in May 2014. She eventually had responsibility for all of Ignite’s contracts serving DoD and NASA. Currently, Nancy runs the NASA portfolio which includes software development and sustainment support for NASA Agency applications and provides integrated logistics for the International Space Station working with Boeing. She runs our Proposal Management efforts and ensures we follow our quality processes and maintaining Ignite’s quality certifications.
Prior to joining Ignite, Nancy was a consultant for ConEdison based in New York City. She previously worked at a local Huntsville company, Intergraph, for 18 years serving the Utilities and Communications industry completing her tenure as Vice President of Professional Services for all US based customers and programs.
Prior to joining Ignite, Nancy began her career with Boeing after graduating from Auburn University in Computer Engineering. She served as a Software Engineer on both the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs.
Nancy is an Ignite-certified Program Manager and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Rob Hamilton
EVP, EMSO and AI/ML
Mr. Robert Hamilton is a Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Ignite, a Huntsville based defense contractor. In that role he is responsible for developing and executing growth strategies to help pinpoint the areas in the DOD where Ignite’s capabilities can add the most value in support of critical DOD missions. Rob also oversees the Air Force portfolio for the company, delivering innovative solutions in AI/ML, Electrical Engineering, Weapons and Tactics expertise and Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations capabilities in support of Air Force Operations Imperatives.
Prior to joining Ignite, Rob served as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Senior Executive (SES) for FBI Redstone Operations. In that role he was responsible for the overall transition of multiple FBI headquarters functions to the Redstone Arsenal team. As an Air Force Officer, Colonel Robert Hamilton is currently the Deputy A4 for 10th Air Force overseeing logistics, engineering, and force protection in support of the 20,000-person numbered Air Force. On active-duty Rob flew Combat Search and Rescue HC-130s in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he compiled just under 100 combat hours of flying time. He holds a BS in Business Management from the US Air Force Academy, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School General Management Program.
This joint venture between Radiance and Ignite combines the strengths of two industry leaders to deliver comprehensive solutions across defense, intelligence, and civilian sectors. This collaboration drives innovation and ensures high-quality, mission-critical services, providing our clients with unparalleled expertise and technology to meet evolving challenges.
