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Jerry "INDY" Gandy SES (Ret)

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Jerry “Indy” Gandy SES (Ret.) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nebraska Defense Research Corporation at the University of Nebraska, a non-profit affiliate company of the University of Nebraska, which promotes, encourages, and assists academic innovation and discovery and is designed to identify, evaluate, and assist innovation and technology transfer in support of U.S. national security objectives.

At NDRC, Mr. Gandy provides strategic counsel and advisory support to United States Strategic Command and the NEC, facilitating collaboration among small businesses, higher education, research institutions, and defense partners to accelerate technology transition and deliver mission-relevant capabilities to the warfighter.

His responsibilities include:

  • Advising NEC leadership on strategy, partnerships, and mission alignment
  • Accelerating Department of War defense innovation and technology transition
  • Connecting small businesses, academia, and industry to National Security Priorities
  • Evaluating technology opportunities for operational impact and scalability
  • Advancing NDRC’s mission, values, and partner-focused execution

Before joining NDRC, Gandy served in senior executive leadership roles across the Department of War and federal contracting sectors. As a Senior Director at GDIT, he managed a diverse portfolio of strategic clients, mission-critical programs, and enterprise-scale defense modernization contracts supporting the Department of the Air Force, Combatant Commands, and Major Commands. As a Senior Executive Service member, Gandy served as J9, Director of Mission Assessment and Analysis, U.S. Strategic Command, where he led a multidisciplinary team of military officers, civilians, and contractors supporting strategic decision-making and mission effectiveness.

His portfolio included:

  • Strategic and operational analysis and assessment
  • Compliance activities supporting headquarters requirements
  • War-gaming using models, simulations, and alternative futures
  • Red teaming and adversarial analysis
  • Distributed network operations and IT lab capabilities
  • Analytical support to improve NEC mission readiness, capabilities, and operational outcomes

Commissioned through Air Force ROTC in 1984, Gandy is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran with more than 2,500 F-4 and F-15 flight hours, including 229 combat hours. During his 2003 deployment to Saudi Arabia, he commanded over 900 Airmen who established a bare base in 17 days and achieved 100% mission execution across F-15 and C-130 air tasking operations.

  • His command and senior leadership assignments included wing, group, squadron, installation, safety, joint staff, and international training leadership roles, culminating as Commander, 95th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, Edwards AFB, California.

Mr. Gandy and his wife, Michelle, reside in Papillion, NE.