AT&T, Lead Technical Business Manager
Fred Blackburn is a decorated combat veteran who retired in 2017 after more than 30 years of service in the US Army and Army Reserve. During his military career, Fred achieved the most senior enlisted rank of Sergeant Major. He has served as the G2 Intelligence Sergeant Major for the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, the Partner Nation Engagement Officer, US Army Africa at Vicenza, Italy, and the Senior Enlisted Advisor for European Command Joint Reserve Intelligence Support Element at Fort Gillem, Georgia. Fred also served as an instructor at the US Army Intelligence Center of Excellence at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and at the Air Assault School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Fred received over 25 individual, unit, and specialty awards throughout his military career in addition to being selected as 108th Division Instructor of the Year and as honor graduate for numerous technical and leadership courses.
Fred is a Certified Master Life Coach providing leadership, life, and military transition coaching through his own business, Discover Evolutions Consulting LLC. Fred has mentored and trained military intelligence professionals in more than a dozen countries, routinely providing guidance and advice to the most senior level national intelligence leaders. Fred currently works as a Lead Technical Business Manager for AT&T Mobility in Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, Fred served as a Senior Systems Engineer, securing and managing the mobile messaging platforms which process over a billion messages daily, as well as the Chief of Staff for all AT&T mobility operations, and in various network engineering positions. He has worked in AT&T’s mobility operations for over 20 years. He also serves on the Board Credit Committee for Associated Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the state of Georgia.
Fred is an honor graduate of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy at Ft Bliss, Texas. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Management, a certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management, and holds a master’s degree in Global Business Management from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In his leisure time, Fred enjoys reading, working out, traveling, and spending time with his two grandsons. Fred has also been a passionate volunteer mentor with the Community Based Mentoring Program for Gwinnett County Public Schools and the Legacy Youth Mentoring for Jackson County Public Schools since 2016.