Morgan Nicholson_ Leading Innovation in Radar Engineering.pdf

Morgan Nicholson, CEO of InTrack Radar Technologies, stands out as one of the most influential business leaders to watch in 2025. With a steadfast commitment to engineering excellence.

1. Morgan Nicholson: Leading Innovation in Radar
Engineering

Great leaders shape the future not just by steering their companies but by
inspiring innovation, integrity, and resilience in their industries. They build
cultures where ideas thrive, challenges are met with creativity, and missions are
prioritized above all else. These visionaries don’t just react to change—they drive
it, setting new standards and redefining what success looks like for those who
follow.
Morgan Nicholson, CEO of InTrack Radar Technologies, stands out as one of the
most influential business leaders to watch in 2025. With a steadfast commitment
to engineering excellence and a sharp strategic vision, Nicholson has transformed
his company into a beacon of innovation in the space and missile radar sector.
His leadership blends humility with authority, fostering a team-first culture that

2. champions the best ideas regardless of rank. As he guides InTrack toward new
frontiers, Nicholson’s story is one of purposeful growth and unwavering
dedication to advancing critical technology—qualities that mark him as a true
trailblazer in today’s competitive landscape.
Founding Vision
The journey of InTrack Radar Technologies began over fifteen years ago with a
shared vision between Nicholson and Alan Garner. During Nicholson’s time
working on the range at Kwajalein, the two often discussed starting a business
together, their conversations continuing across time zones and continents. The
name “InTrack” itself was inspired by a phrase commonly used during missions
at Kwajalein—a nod to the roots of the company and the mission-driven
environment that shaped its foundation. Morgan Nicholson strategically charted his career path with this goal in mind.
Every professional step—whether technical assignments, leadership roles, or
managerial responsibilities—was carefully chosen to build credibility, expand his
network, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the space and missile radar
domain. His focus wasn’t just on technical expertise but on cultivating the skills
and knowledge necessary to run a successful company.
After years of preparation, when the timing aligned, Nicholson collaborated with
the other founding members to officially launch InTrack Radar Technologies,
bringing a long-held vision to life through deliberate planning and industry
insight.
Lifelong Commitment
Nicholson’s passion for radar technology has been a constant throughout his
career. From his early days on Active Duty to his time at Kwajalein and later at
Exelis, each chapter deepened his connection to this specialized field. His work

3. has always centered on the radar mission area, driven by both purpose and a
deep technical interest.

What has kept him motivated over the years is the consistent sense of mission,
contributing to a critical and evolving industry where precision and innovation
matter. This unwavering focus eventually led to the founding of InTrack Radar
Technologies, a natural progression shaped by decades of dedication and
experience.
Engineering with Purpose
InTrack Radar Technologies was built with a clear mission: to be a company
founded by engineers, for engineers, focused on delivering innovative and
impactful work in the radar space. Under Morgan Nicholson’s leadership, the
company has positioned itself as a hub for top-tier talent in Space and Missile
radar engineering, especially across the western United States.

4. What sets InTrack apart in a competitive tech landscape is its deep integration
into key radar programs supporting Space Domain Awareness and Missile
Warning. The company plays a vital role as a teammate on nearly all major
contracts in these areas. More than just contributing expertise, InTrack reinvests
a significant portion of its earnings into developing advanced, mission-driven
technologies—tools that not only help their prime partners win contracts but also
ensure more effective execution on the ground. Core Principles
At InTrack Radar Technologies, the foundation of the business strategy is built on
unwavering principles of integrity, service, mission-first focus, and strong
teamwork. The company values merit above all, where the best idea wins, and
centers its operations around engineering excellence. While sustainability, data
ethics, and social responsibility are not explicitly discussed, these core values
guide every decision and action within the organization.
Navigating Challenges
Launching InTrack Radar Technologies amid the pandemic posed significant
hurdles for Nicholson and his team. Securing facility clearance and connecting
with the right contacts for contracts and business development proved difficult,
especially given the classified nature of much of their work.
Despite these obstacles, the company adapted by operating out of a founder’s
basement to keep overhead low. Interestingly, the pandemic also created an
opportunity: many professionals used the time to reflect on their careers,
enabling InTrack to achieve early recruiting success. This resilience and flexibility
helped the company overcome initial challenges and set a foundation for growth.
Financial Journey

5. InTrack Radar Technologies has followed a self-funded, bootstrapped path since
its inception. Growth has been rapid but carefully paced, limited primarily by
available cash flow. The company’s ownership and board remain unchanged from
the start, enabling strategic growth without compromising its culture or vision.
This approach also allows the company to decline work that doesn’t align with its
core values—an advantage they consciously maintain.
Milestones of Impact
Under Nicholson’s leadership, InTrack Radar Technolo gies has achieved several
notable milestones that reflect its growing influence in the radar engineering
space. One of the company’s strategic wins includes forming key alliances with
L3Harris and SAIC.

The company’s innovation-driven approach has led to additional wins, including
a direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract and selection in the first four cohorts of the

6. SDA TAPLAB program. InTrack’s Hardware in the Loop technology has received
funding with multiple customers, and the company was recently awarded a
contract with IARPA, further validating its position as a trusted engineering
partner in critical national defense programs.
Evolving Leadership
Over the past several years, Nicholson’s leadership style has evolved significantly,
shifting from a collaborative peer approach to the more defined role of CEO.
While InTrack Radar Technologies maintains a culture that downplays formal
ranks and job titles, Nicholson recognizes that his position naturally carries
influence, sometimes making his jokes seem funnier and his ideas more readily
accepted, even if not always for their merit.
To foster genuine collaboration, he learned the importance of being the last to
speak in meetings, encouraging diverse perspectives rather than early agreement.
As the company grew, Nicholson consciously reduced his technical workload to
focus on leadership and talent development. He embraces full ownership of
decisions, understanding that ultimate responsibility rests with him.
Nicholson also acknowledges the solitary nature of being a CEO. Unlike other
roles, successes often go uncelebrated, and there’s no one to turn to with
complaints on tough days. He emphasizes that the role demands high
self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and maturity to navigate its unique
challenges effectively.
Fostering Innovation
Nicholson emphasizes a culture of minimal bureaucracy at InTrack Radar
Technologies to maximize engineers’ focus on technical work. By limiting the
number of projects assigned to each engineer, the company reduces distractions
and allows deep immersion in their tasks, fostering stronger customer

7. engagement and a clearer understanding of client challenges, sometimes even
better than the clients themselves.
InTrack encourages innovation by funding internal seedling R&D projects
proposed by its staff, supporting ideas through to Minimum Viable Product
(MVP) development to evaluate their feasibility. The company also actively
pursues SBIR projects that are aligned with employees’ interests. Careful and
selective hiring, combined with significant investment in professional
development, ensures the team remains skilled, motivated, and ready to push
technological boundaries. Strategic Alliances

InTrack Radar Technologies is actively pursuing strategic partnerships to
strengthen its position in the industry. Under Nicholson’s guidance, the company
seeks to align with like-minded organizations that share its vision and values. A

8. key focus is finding a commercial partner to help transition InTrack’s approach
and technology into the commercial Space Domain Awareness (SDA) market,
expanding its reach beyond government contracts.
Inclusive Innovation
According to Morgan Nicholson, innovation thrives in a culture where the best
idea wins, regardless of rank or title. Nicholson emphasizes that the company
fosters an environment where every team member feels ownership of the
product, is encouraged to voice their opinions freely, and knows their
contributions are valued. This inclusive approach ensures continuous
improvement and empowers engineers to drive meaningful progress together.
Future Focus
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, InTrack Radar Technologies aims to secure
several key prime contracts and pursue significant commercial opportunities. The
company plans to strengthen its expertise in Space Domain Awareness and
Missile Warning while preparing to expand into the Missile Defense market,
positioning itself for sustained growth and impact.
Leadership Advice
Morgan Nicholson advises aspiring entrepreneurs and future leaders in the radar
and advanced technology sectors to prioritize their customers’ mission above all
else. His philosophy, “mission before profit,” emphasizes building an
organization centered around the core function that drives that mission—in
InTrack’s case, engineering. By focusing on developing both this critical function
and the people behind it, leaders ensure that their teams understand the vital
importance of their work and remain deeply motivated. Legacy Vision

9. Morgan Nicholson views engineering as a sacred profession and aims to build
InTrack Radar Technologies into an organization that honors engineering done
the right way. He hopes that after employees move on from IRT, they carry
forward the experience of a workplace that truly fosters innovation and
mission-driven products—either seeking similar environments or creating their
own. His enduring vision is to support critical Space Domain Awareness and
Missile Warning missions that safeguard freedoms and protect U.S.
servicemembers and civilians. Work-Life Balance Advice
Nicholson admits he is still navigating the challenge of maintaining work-life
balance but emphasizes the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. He
views working on weekends as a personal failure and makes a conscious effort to
disconnect by avoiding work emails and texts during that time. He prioritizes
exercise, sufficient rest, and being present for his children’s activities such as
soccer games, gymnastics, and school events.
Key Career Lesson
Morgan Nicholson believes the most valuable lesson he’s learned is to find a job
that allows you to be your authentic self. He explains that hiding who you are is
exhausting and ultimately transparent. Authenticity resonates with people and
builds trust, making others more willing to follow when leadership opportunities
arise.
Morgan Nicholson’s 5 Powerful Business Mantras
●​Mission Over Profit: Focus on your mission first; success and profit will
naturally follow when the core purpose drives the organization.
●​Meritocracy Rules: Let the best ideas win regardless of position, fostering
an open culture where every voice matters.

10. ●​Lead with Humility and Accountability: Listen more than you speak,
encourage diverse views, and take full responsibility for your decisions.
●​Purpose-Driven Engineering: Approach your work with passion and
commitment, investing in excellence and continuous innovation.
●​Authenticity Builds Trust: Be genuine at work—authenticity creates trust,
eases leadership, and inspires others to follow.