Executive Team

As Founder and CEO of Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I³), Mr. Kocher is responsible for executive management and development of innovative corporate growth areas. I³ began in 1998 in response to the U.S. government’s urgent need for specialized, responsive technology consulting in areas directly affecting the health and safety of deployed forces and U.S. citizens.

Prior to establishing I³, Mr. Kocher served with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) for six years as a Program Manager where he was responsible for the evaluation, selection and transitioning of high-concept technologies for military applications in peacekeeping and future combat operations. He also formed and institutionalized the Army’s Quick Response Office to provide cutting-edge technologies in counter-terrorism and peace-keeping to soldiers and peacekeepers.

Mr. Kocher graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, with a Bachelor of Science degree and served in a variety of military management and leadership positions. He holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University and is a Certified Level III Program Manager, Department of Defense and Program Management Institute (PMI). Additionally, he is a Certified Level III Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering. Mr. Kocher is an inventor currently holding 54 issued and pending patents, an avid athlete completing 56 marathons, and is an active jet pilot.

Mr. Kocher is a member of the I³ Executive Committee.

Mr. Syretz is President of Ideal Innovations, Inc. He has P&L responsibility, directs corporate strategy and runs day to day operations. Mr. Syretz has been employed by I³ for over 15 years and has held the positions of CFO and COO prior to being appointed President in Dec. 2022.

Prior to joining I³, Mr. Syretz was Director of Finance for the $600m Defense Business Unit of URS Corporation (formerly Washington Group International and Raytheon Company). At URS he was responsible for financial reporting and strategic financial planning.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Syretz held financial roles of increasing responsibility within Raytheon Company in Newport, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, including serving as Sr. Business Manager for the Raytheon Demilitarization Company.

Mr. Syretz was honored in 2010 as one of the top CFO’s in Greater Washington by SmartCEO Magazine and as a finalist for Washington Business Journal’s CFO of the Year Award.

In 2014, he was awarded the Company’s Innovator of the Year award.

Mr. Syretz earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in both Finance and Economics from Boston College and holds a MBA in Finance. He is also a candidate for the Certificate of Management from Wharton’s School’s Executive Education Program. Richard is a member of the Board of Directors of the 11q Research and Resource Group non-profit where he has served as Treasurer since 2010.

Mr. Syretz is a member of the I³ Executive Committee.

 

As a Senior Vice President (SVP), Dr. Perlman oversees and manages forensic services and training efforts for I³, including efforts in the areas of latent print examination, ten-print examination, facial identification, latent print processing, forensic chemistry, case file management, DNA analysis, forensic photography, firearms and tool mark examination, and DOMEX examination. She also oversees all offerings within the company’s Face Center of Excellence (FaCE).

When Dr. Perlman first joined I³ in 2006, she served as a Technology Advisor to the U.S. Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF). While at the REF, she led research activities in areas of armor, explosives detection and explosives analysis.

Prior to joining I³, Dr. Perlman was a Research Chemist in the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit and the Forensic Analysis Section at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). While at the FBI, she conducted research in the areas of fingerprint detection and development and managed other research programs in the areas of latent prints, questioned documents, explosives, chemical and biological warfare and surveillance. Dr. Perlman received a BA in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis; a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania; and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at JILA, a joint institute between the University of Colorado and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Perlman is a member of the I³ Executive Committee.

 

Mr. Kostrzebski is the Chief Strategic Growth Officer for I³. He is responsible for increasing revenue, expanding market share, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of I³ by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, market trends, and consumer behavior insights.

He has over 16 years of experience in government professional services, where he has successfully led and managed teams to win multiple competitive bids and contract awards, totaling over $450M in revenue, across various accounts and domains.

Prior to joining I³, he most recently held a series of progressive Growth leadership roles at GDIT and MetroStar. He began his career as an on-site program manager with SRA, working directly with government customers, and later at CSRA he led a P&L business line of 200 FTE.

He is a Marine Corps veteran and aviator with multiple overseas deployments, and flew in the Presidential squadron as a pilot of Marine One in his last operational flying tour.

He holds an AB with honors from Harvard University, an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and a MA in National Security Affairs with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.

 

In his 35-year career, Dr. Ruckman has managed and performed all phases of defense research and development, from basic and applied research to testing, fielding and sustainment. Before joining the I³ team in 2006, he spent 20 years (10 as a US Navy Civilian) developing advanced technology for submarine acoustics, including one of the first large-scale systems for active vibration control. He has worked with counter-IED technologies for 15 years, and he served the US Army Rapid Equipping Force at the Forward Laboratory at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He has planned and directed dozens of field assessments for radars, ISR systems, airborne sensors, and camera systems for long-distance face recognition. He developed one of the first systems for using heart biometrics to verify identity from a distance.

Dr. Ruckman is a Virginia Tech graduate with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. His favorite pastimes include boating, woodworking and playing drums.

Ms. Farmer has over 26 years of Human Resources experience. She joined Ideal Innovations Inc. in 2005 and has over 15 years of Human Capital leadership experience in Department of Defense contracting.

Ms. Farmer leads the Human Capital initiatives for Ideal Innovations, Inc. She oversees a team of talented Human Resources professionals in the development and implementation of strategic human resources policies and programs covering employment, compensation, benefits, performance, employee relations, talent acquisition, retention and compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws for employees worldwide.

Prior to her position at Ideal Innovations, Ms. Farmer held leadership roles with increasing responsibility at four other companies.

In addition, Ms. Farmer is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management.