A native of Maine, Ted has over 20 years of computer networking experience supporting the communications networks of the United States Navy at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, R.I. For the Department of the Navy, Pietz's role includes solving complex application integration problems and "cradle-to-grave" network support, which includes system design, end-to-end system integration and testing, system deployment onboard nuclear submarines, and in-service engineering activities. With a penchant for strong technical authorship and project management, he additionally serves as a contracting officer representative (COR) of a $31 million multiyear contract supported by over 90 contractors. During a two year stint at an Echelon 2 command in Washington, D.C., Ted was embedded in a Development and Deployment Team (DDT) responsible for executing over $50M per fiscal year (FY). Ted gained Program Executive Office (PEO) experience, building cost Rough Order of Magnitude (ROMs), and learned how to work effectively in an environment with high level senior civilian and military personnel. Pietz holds a master's degree in Information Systems and a bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in business administration, both from the University of Maine. Since 2017, he has served in leadership roles for several municipal advisory committees and boards, currently serving as secretary of the Portsmouth, R.I., economic development committee (PEDC) and formerly as vice-chair of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC)'s Board of Directors.