Dolores Nichols, M.Sc, SSBB, PMP
About Dolores
Dolores Nichols is a dynamic Program Manager and Task Lead with over 7 years of experience driving high-impact DoD programs. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Black Belt, she has delivered mission-critical solutions, achieving $644K+ in cost savings and 100% on-time delivery across weather systems, air traffic control (ATC), and expeditionary programs.
Leading Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) of 30+ personnel and directly supervising 12 employees, Dolores excels in fostering collaboration, mitigating risks, and aligning complex initiatives with DoDI 5000.02 standards. Notable achievements include saving $344K by consolidating technical documentation 60 days ahead of schedule and enhancing operational efficiency by 30% through streamlined workflows. Her ability to integrate systems and coordinate with joint and FAA stakeholders has bolstered warfighter readiness and aviation safety.
Dolores holds a Master of Science in Project Management and Operations (4.0 GPA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business/Program Management (3.9 GPA) from Southern New Hampshire University, reflecting her commitment to academic and professional excellence. Her Active Secret Clearance (Adjudicated: June 2018) underscores her readiness for high-stakes DoD roles.
Beyond her career, Dolores is a dedicated mother of two, navigating the challenges of parenting a child with extraordinary medical needs. This experience has sharpened her resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Passionate about empowering others, she founded Mission: Mom & Manager, a platform inspiring working mothers to excel in leadership and balance professional and personal goals through insights on productivity and work-life harmony.
My projects
TO Consolidation- Completed: Ahead of schedule and under budget
Role: Deputy Program Manager
Completion Date: May 16, 2025
Overview: Successfully led the Technical Order (TO) Consolidation project, a strategic initiative to streamline three separate TOs for variations of the same system into a single, comprehensive data source. Completed 35 days ahead of the June 20, 2025 deadline and under budget, this project reduced redundancy, enhanced maintainer efficiency, and delivered estimated savings of over $340,000. The result improves the efficiency of providing forward-deployed USAF weather personnel with the technical data required to sustain safe aviation operations in the field.
Key Achievements:
- Consolidated three TOs, minimizing update times for common elements.
- Defined the Integrated Product Team, including over 30 military members, government civilians, and defense contractors.
- Developed the project schedule and tracked progress by leading weekly meetings and documenting updates for the Program Executive Officer (PEO).
- Ensured exceptional efficiency through thorough planning and clear communication, finishing well ahead of schedule and under budget.
- Demonstrated strong leadership and collaboration, fostering a cohesive team effort.
Impact: The streamlined TO enhances operational efficiency for maintainers and supports safe aviation operations for forward-deployed USAF weather personnel. This challenging project, completed ahead of schedule and under budget, marks a significant milestone in my leadership journey, and I’m excited to apply these skills to future challenges.
Working Unit Code Tiger Team- Completed
I played a pivotal role in providing an effort to establish a strong foundation for full system accountability, dramatically reducing obsolete legacy LRUs, and eliminating unnecessary manual codes. This ensured that the maintenance data collection system was fully aligned with the final published Technical Order. The resulting document empowers maintainers to accurately identify current systems, sub-systems, and repairable components while also rectifying 12 years of outdated material.
My experience
As a seasoned program management professional, I specialize in orchestrating complex logistics and technical data projects with precision and efficiency. My leadership as Deputy Program Manager on the Technical Order (TO) Consolidation project resulted in a streamlined, unified data source from three disparate TOs, completed 35 days early on May 16, 2025, and under budget, yielding over $340,000 in savings. This effort directly enhanced the operational readiness of USAF weather personnel by delivering critical technical data for safe aviation operations.
I excel in coordinating diverse teams, having guided over 30 military members, government civilians, and defense contractors through meticulous schedule development, weekly progress meetings, and detailed briefings to senior leadership, including the Program Executive Officer (PEO). My expertise encompasses logistics management, configuration control, and data optimization, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. I have a proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, leveraging clear communication and Agile principles to surpass project milestones.
Beyond technical execution, I bring a strategic mindset to program planning, process improvement, and stakeholder engagement. My experience includes delivering high-level briefings, optimizing workflows, and mentoring teams to foster a culture of accountability and innovation. With a strong foundation in managing Time Compliance Technical Orders (TCTOs) and a passion for operational excellence, I am committed to delivering impactful results while advancing organizational goals.