Chetan Desai serves as NextGen Federal Systems’ Chief Operating Officer (COO). He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. During his career, he has served in various technical and management roles including Lead GIS Developer, Program Manager, Chief Engineer, Executive Vice President, and COO. Mr. Desai joined NextGen as the second full-time employee and has provided day-to-day management and development of all aspects of a new startup and lead NextGen to achieve strong sustained growth and NextGen's recognition by INC. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in US for each of the past eight years. Mr. Desai recruited several members of the NextGen’s Senior Management Team.

Mr. Desai has been the Principal Investigator for several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and related research and development projects, such as weather analytics and exploitation. At NextGen, Mr. Desai has provided strategic guidance to pursue and win over $60M of SBIR Phase I, II, and III contracts and helped with transition of several SBIR Technologies to Operations.