About Us

AIT is a leading provider of cyber and engineering solutions for government and commercial clients worldwide. Recognized as a progressive company in cybersecurity, engineering, and intelligence we understand the unique challenges our customers face in the constantly changing world of technology. Our unique worldwide partnerships build and expand our superior cybersecurity capabilities to ensure your mission will always succeed – even in a cyber contested environment.

From AIT’s humble beginnings in 2001, our vision is to provide every customer with superior cyber, engineering, and intelligence  solutions to ensure complete mission success. Our seasoned subject matter experts are innovative solutions professionals in cybersecurity for both traditional IT systems and operational technology (OT) in critical infrastructures. Each member of the AIT team holds firm to the idea that integrity, commitment, service, and excellence are essential to surpassing customer expectations and building relationships that last.

Our Vision

Providing our customers with superior cyber, engineering, and intelligence solutions to ensure complete mission success!

Leadership

Ken
Blake

President
&
CEO

Kevin
McKinstrie

Chief
Financial
Officer

Chris
Ficke

Vice President, Cyber & Engineering

Larry
Jaffe

Principal,
Cyber mission assurance

AIT Industry Partners

AIT Academic Partners

AIT Customers

AIT is proud to provide cybersecurity support to a wide range of agencies for the federal government, academia, and businesses

Ken Blake

President &
Chief executive officer

Mr. Kenneth Blake is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Applied Integrated Technologies (AIT), Inc. located in Columbia, Maryland. Mr. Blake started AIT in 2001 and since that time has steadily grown AIT into a leading Cyber and Engineering company, amassing more than 100 contracts across the DoD, Intelligence Community, and Federal Partners worldwide. 

With over 35 years of experience in DoD and the Intelligence Community, Mr. Blake’s focus has always been understanding his customers’ needs.  Today, he continues to make this his main focus, while developing the business direction and strategic goals for the company.  His visionary leadership resulted in AIT being featured in the INC magazine’s 500/5000 article in 2007 and Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 500 as one of the fastest growing new companies.  Prior to starting AIT, Mr. Blake served in various executive and key positions at several fortune 500 companies.  

Mr. Blake is passionate about giving back to the community and helping others achieve their goals.  He has mentored young professionals and newly minted CEOs, and is an active alumnus of University of Maryland, College Park. He has also served as a member of the Board of Visitors at Bowie State University, and is a member of the Howard County High Tech Council.  He has several hobbies including designing home floor plans and playing the bass guitar in a local band. 

Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management from the University of Maryland University College.

Kevin McKinstrie

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. McKinstrie, is the Chief Financial Officer of AIT, responsible for the Finance, Accounting, and Contract Administration functions of AIT Business Operations. He is responsible for monitoring, controlling, and reporting for these functions.  Mr. McKinstrie directs and coordinates corporate financial affairs according to financial principles (GAAP) and government regulations (FAR/CAS).

Mr. McKinstrie is a valuable asset to our company, with more than 35 years of federal government contracting experience. He establishes and maintains AIT’s credit line, manages long-term financial obligations, and interacts with lending institutions. He interacts with lending institutions. Directing and preparing the financial analysis of operations, Mr. McKinstrie ensures all senior management’s financial decisions are thoroughly informed.

Before his CFO duties, Mr. McKinstrie was a Partner at a Washington, DC regional CPA firm.  He has a BS degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Chris Ficke

Vice President,
Cyber & Engineering Operations

As a Vice President, Mr. Chris Ficke provides executive leadership and planning to guide AIT’s Cyber and Engineering Operations. With 25 years of experience in cyber, engineering, and hardware design his strategic vision and engineering background help AIT bring our cyber & technology goals to fruition. Mr. Ficke works closely with Senior Level Executive DoD customers to shape national policy regarding cyber and engineering for Critical Infrastructure, and continually applies his subject matter expertise to protect and defend our nation’s critical assets.

In addition to his many years working for the Department of Defense as a Technical Director, a Systems Engineer, and a digital circuit/FPGA design engineer, Mr. Ficke has 25 years of experience serving the United States Air Force. His service includes both Active Duty and Reserve Duty as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA). He currently serves as the IMA to the Commander for a Cyber Operational Testing squadron. 

Mr. Ficke is a proud Texan and esteemed graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Masters of Science degree from the USAF Air University and has attended both Air Command and Staff College as well as Air War College. Mr. Ficke is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

Larry Jaffe

Principal,
Cyber Mission
Assurance Capabilities

Larry Jaffe leads Applied Integrated Technologies’ Cyber Mission Assurance Capabilities (CMAC) teams and has more than 30 years of experience consulting on industrial controls cybersecurity engineering, information security, portfolio management, information technology, and telecommunications. He is a subject matter expert (SME) specializing in information security for critical infrastructure, managing information assurance programs, assessing vulnerabilities, developing remediation strategies, and increasing security awareness.

Mr. Jaffe successfully served in a leadership or SME capacity for the Department of Defense, the Department of Health Services, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and several commercial customers. Quantifying cyber risk, conducting multiple threat and vulnerability assessments, reporting recommendations for assuring regulatory compliance, designing physical networks, developing IT security strategies are all areas of his expertise. His extensive expertise enables Mr. Jaffe to pinpoint cost-savings opportunities, deliver unbeatable security strategies, and ensure regulatory compliance for his customers – all while supporting the project’s mission.