Our Managing Principal

Dr. Ronald L. Black is Founder and Managing Principal of Osprey Cove LLC, a Service-
Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. With more

than 35 years of distinguished leadership across the Department of Defense (DoD), he
provides executive-level consulting in enterprise risk management, logistics, supply chain
transformation, identity and access management, and executive coaching. Under his
guidance, Osprey Cove partners with federal agencies, academic institutions, and
technology firms to integrate AI-driven analytics, implement Zero Trust architectures,
and optimize performance in high-stakes, compliance-driven environments.

Prior to launching Osprey Cove, Dr. Black served as Director of Identity, Credential, and
Access Management (ICAM) and Segregation of Duties at the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA). In that role, he established a Program Management Office to drive Zero Trust
integration and audit compliance across the agency; subsequently, as DLA’s Chief Risk
Officer, he directed enterprise-wide risk management and internal controls, delivering
actionable insights that enhanced operational resilience and supported DLA’s journey to
financial audit readiness. Earlier, he oversaw critical intelligence-support contracts in
Afghanistan as Resources Section Head for United States Forces – Afghanistan,
managing over $1 billion in multinational support operations under combat conditions.

 

Dr. Black’s earlier career includes senior leadership assignments with the Office of the
Secretary of Defense—where he influenced $24 billion in transportation enterprise
operations through policy reform—and executive energy-logistics posts in the Middle
East and Pacific theaters, managing fuel distribution networks valued at over $10 billion.
A former U.S. Navy Supply Officer, he directed global logistics for nuclear aircraft
carriers, submarines, and aviation units, supervising inventories exceeding $1.5 billion
and leading teams of up to 800 personnel.

 

He holds a Doctor of Management in Environmental and Social Sustainability, a Master
of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, a Master
of Science in Petroleum Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Management. His
executive credentials include certificates in Chief Risk and Chief Data Analytics Officer
from George Mason University, and he is a Certified Professional Coach. Dr. Black
maintains an active TS/SCI clearance and is a ten-point veteran preference eligible. He
serves on multiple academic and professional boards—including as Faculty Advisor for
the Order of the Sword and Shield International Honor Society—and is a sought-after
speaker on enterprise risk, supply chain resilience, and cybersecurity governance.