Jay Winkeler

Biography

Jay Winkeler is the Executive Director of the Center for Business Analytics. A Virginia Tech alumnus, Winkeler received a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a master’s degree in engineering administration. He joined the CBA in 2019 after a distinguished career in the business sector.

He started his career at the Central Intelligence Agency and spent more than 15 years each at TRW and Lockheed Martin. In 2016, Winkeler joined Leidos, where he led business units focused on serving the U.S. Department of Justice and the intelligence community.

Prior to his return to Virginia Tech in 2019, Winkeler mentored and advised engineering students in the Ware Lab, guest lectured in Business, Computer Science and Engineering classes, and participated in numerous hiring events. He leads the Center for Business Analytics through a key phase of growth and expansion and contributes more broadly to the university’s critical data and decisions initiatives.

Winkeler is an experienced professional and relationship-driven leader. Students pursuing degrees through the Center for Business Analytics benefit from his business acumen, experience with all facets of the interview process, including salary negotiations and presentations, and personal connections to key industry leaders in several of the world’s leading companies. He spends considerable effort on preparing CBA students for careers and helping them land jobs right out of the program.