Matthew L. Klunder

L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $17 billion in annual revenue and 50,000 employees, with customers in 130 countries. L3Harris.com. 

Matthew L.  Klunder is vice president of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Accounts and DARPA and Department of Defense (DOD) Laboratories for L3Harris Technologies Global Business Development (Global BD).  Global BD supports the development, production, and integration of advanced intelligence, communications, and information systems that solve the mission critical challenges of its defense, national intelligence, and civil agency customers worldwide.

Klunder assumed the position of vice president in 2015. He is responsible for engaging US. Navy, Marine Corps and DoD Lab senior leaders and customers to understand their mission critical needs and educate customers on L3Harris capabilities. Klunder reports to Chief, Strategy and Global Business Development.  

Before joining L3Harris, RADM Klunder (ret) was the Chief of Naval Research and Director of Innovation, Technology, and Test & Evaluation for the U.S Navy and Marine Corps. In this position, he was responsible for over 3,500 scientists, engineers, and support personnel executing scientific research and advanced technology development. Before that he was the Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Unmanned Systems responsible for cutting-edge ISR and unmanned system investments for the Department of the Navy.

During his 32 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Klunder served as an Experimental Test Pilot, Squadron Commanding Officer, Carrier Air Wing Commander, and as the 83rd Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. He played a key role in eight major deployments and multiple surge operations to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. He qualified in numerous aircraft including the E-2C Hawkeye and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and was Full Joint Staff certified. He was also qualified as Deputy Director for the Combined Air Operations Center in Al Udeid, Qatar. 

Klunder has a bachelor’s degree in Ocean Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, and master’s degrees in Aerodynamics from the Univ. of Tennessee and Strategic Studies from the National War College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s C/JFLCC course, the National Defense University Capstone course, the Naval Post Graduate School Executive Business course, and the UNC Chapel Hill Senior Executive Strategic Development course.

Klunder was awarded the 1988 Hawkeye of the Year, the 1991 Test Pilot of the Year, and the 2002 George C. Marshall Statesman award.  He has flown over 45 different aircraft and has 21 world flying records. He is a full member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Tailhook Association, and Business of Higher Education Forum.