Stacey Ecelbarger is an operations and strategy executive with extensive experience leading complex programs, organizational growth, and mission driven initiatives. She specializes in building scalable organizations, developing strategic partnerships, and transforming vision into operational success.

 

Throughout her career, Stacey has led organizations through periods of growth by creating operational frameworks, managing complex initiatives, and building high performing teams. She has developed and managed multimillion dollar budgets, negotiated strategic partnerships, overseen large scale logistics and events, and implemented processes that enable organizations to scale while maintaining accountability and mission focus.

 

Stacey has played a key leadership role in the growth and operational development of USNDA, supporting strategic planning, organizational operations, finance, partnerships, workforce development, and the execution of large scale initiatives. Her work has helped bring together government, industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations to accelerate innovation, strengthen America's defense industrial base, and prepare the future workforce supporting emerging technologies.

 

Prior to her work with USNDA, Stacey was the CoFounder of Freedom Learning Group, an education services company dedicated to creating meaningful employment opportunities for Military Spouses while delivering high quality instructional design and learning solutions. Stacey helped build and scale the organization by recruiting and developing a talented workforce of U.S. Military Spouses and Veterans. The company became recognized for its innovative approach to supporting military families through remote and flexible career opportunities before achieving a successful exit. Her commitment to supporting military families was recognized when she was named the 2020–2021 Armed Forces Insurance U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Military Spouse of the Year.

 

Stacey is also the Co-Founder of the Parable Foundation, where she led charitable and community initiatives focused on education, family support, and meaningful community impact. In addition, Stacey served as a real estate broker, where she developed extensive expertise in client relationships, business development, negotiation, and strategic growth. Her professional background also includes experience supporting law enforcement and public safety operations, with a foundation in quality assurance, emergency communications, police services, corrections, court, and mission critical information management. This experience provided her with a strong understanding of operational excellence, compliance, process improvement, and decision making in high stakes environments.

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Passionate about servant leadership, Stacey believes lasting success is built through integrity, collaboration, and investing in people. She is committed to creating opportunities that strengthen communities, expand access to education, support military families, and advance innovation in service to the nation.

 

Above all, Stacey considers her greatest blessing to be her family. She is married with six beautiful children, who inspire her daily with their resilience, curiosity, and love. They remain the foundation of her purpose and her commitment to making a lasting difference both professionally and personally.