Executive
Biographies

Tracy Solomon
Founder & Chief Executive Officer

John Vandewater
Chief Financial Officer

Wade Lowdermilk
Chief Technology Officer

William Bracken
Chief Information & Operations Officer

Tracy Solomon

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Tracy Solomon grew up on a tobacco farm in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and service- principles that have guided him throughout his life and career. His deep sense of patriotism is rooted in his family’s legacy of military service. His father and grandfather both served in combat and were wounded in action, earning Purple Hearts, and he is one of 14 relatives who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This lifelong commitment to country has shaped his mission: to serve with precision, integrity, and purpose.

Tracy followed this legacy of service by enlisting in the U.S. Navy from 1990 to 1996, where he served as an Aviation Electronics Technician and Metrologist, supporting F-14 Tomcat squadrons. His military experience instilled a profound respect for the Warfighter and a passion for excellence—values that continue to define TEVET today. After his service, he pursued a career in technology and asset management, holding roles at Hewlett-Packard and Alcatel-Lucent while earning his MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

In 2004, driven by a vision to provide best-in-class Test & Measurement, Life Science, and Chemical Analysis solutions, Tracy founded TEVET from his basement. Through dedication and an unwavering commitment to customers, TEVET has grown into an industry leader, supporting American Prime Contractors, federal agencies, and major defense programs like the F-35. Headquartered in a HUBZone in Greeneville, the company now operates with a national reach and a mission to “Serve and Honor the Warfighter.”

Despite TEVET’s success, Tracy remains deeply committed to his community and the values instilled by his family’s legacy of service. He leads initiatives supporting Holston Home for Children, Disabled American Veterans, and JROTC programs. In 2014, he restored the historic Capitol Theatre, ensuring it remains a cultural cornerstone for Greeneville. Under his leadership, TEVET has given back over $1.2 million in charitable donations to support veterans, education, and community enrichment. The company has also earned over 50 industry awards, including Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier status and recognition as the SBA Tennessee Small Businessperson of the Year.

For Tracy, success is about more than business. It is about people, purpose, and impact. His greatest pride lies in the growth of TEVET’s employees, the trust of its customers, and the company’s contributions to the Warfighter and the community, proving that humble beginnings, strong values, and a commitment to service can lead to extraordinary achievements.

John Vandewater

Chief Financial Officer

With extensive experience in commercial and financial management, John came to TEVET, having built a strong career in the telecommunications industry. He has successfully navigated both start-up and corporate environments, specializing in financial analysis and strategic planning. His core competencies include business acumen, international experience, and technical marketing expertise in Broadband Access and IPTV.

Throughout his tenure at Nortel and Avaya, he has played a pivotal role in financial planning, variance analysis, and cost management for multi-million-dollar projects. His expertise in financial modeling and forecasting has supported global business units, ensuring efficiency in budget planning and strategic decision-making. Additionally, his contributions to IPTV commercialization and pricing strategies have driven significant revenue growth.

Before joining Nortel, he worked at Broadband Networks Inc. and the Government of Manitoba, where he refined his skills in policy analysis, proposal development, and economic planning. His early career experience as an Assistant English Instructor in Japan provided him with cross-cultural communication skills and international exposure, which have proven valuable throughout his professional journey.
John holds an MBA from Schiller International University in Paris and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Manitoba. He is an active community member, serving as Vice-Chair of the Board for a local credit union.

Gavin Lessing-Caller

Chief Growth Officer

Gavin Lessing-Caller is a distinguished executive with over 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles in strategic sales and marketing across the test and measurement industry. As the Chief Growth Officer for TEVET, Gavin is responsible for driving growth initiatives, identifying new business opportunities, and expanding the company’s market presence.

Gavin’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for TEVET. His leadership will be crucial in guiding TEVET’s efforts to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional value to its customers as we plot a course and lay the groundwork for the next chapter.

Prior to joining TEVET, he served as General Manager and Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Electro Rent, leading cross-functional teams and managing operations across multiple regions, including Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America and RUSH computers. His strategic leadership has led to exceptional performance and profitability, with over 13% year-over-year growth in sales and securing high-profile projects valued at over $150 million.

Throughout his career, Gavin has demonstrated a profound ability to exceed business expectations and build corporate value. His expertise in managing multi-site and multi-country teams has been instrumental in increasing market share, improving profitability, and reducing costs across SME, and blue-chip environments. Gavin’s leadership qualities are exemplified by his successful guidance of cross-functional teams and implementation of change culture and engagement initiatives.

His areas of expertise include strategic planning, financial acumen, and technological proficiency, making him an asset to any organization. His leadership and achievements have earned him recognition as a transformative executive with a proven track record of success.

Wade Lowdermilk

Chief Technology Officer

With over 30 years of experience in software-defined instrumentation and automatic test systems (ATS), Wade Lowdermilk joined TEVET as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to drive innovation in advanced test and measurement solutions for defense, aerospace, and commercial industries. His expertise spans software-defined radios (SDR), RF signal processing, and strategic leadership in high-tech engineering.

Before TEVET, Wade co-founded RADX Technologies, where he led the development of the LibertyGT® family of software-defined synthetic instruments, earning industry-wide recognition, including the Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award. He has also held key roles at BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Boeing, contributing to next-generation RF, DSP, radar, and electronic warfare technologies.

Wade holds an MSEE from San Diego State University and a BSEE from The University of Texas at Austin. A U.S. Army veteran, he applies his disciplined, mission-driven approach to problem-solving. He has been awarded four patents, published 26 technical papers, and received prestigious industry honors, including the IEEE Autotestcon John Slattery Award.

An advocate for STEM education, Wade enjoys mentoring engineers and actively contributes to industry advancements. In his personal time, he enjoys restoring classic electronics and exploring emerging trends in AI-driven test solutions.

William Bracken

Chief Information & Operations Officer

William Bracken is a seasoned executive with a strong background in IT and operational strategy, driving business growth through innovation and efficiency. With extensive experience in Information Technology, Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Warehousing, he has built a reputation for LEAN operations, Six Sigma methodologies, innovative technology solutions, and team leadership.

Throughout his career, William has held multiple C-level IT and operational roles, leading organizations to enhanced capabilities and operational excellence. He has successfully aligned project and program strategies with business and financial goals, implementing policies and procedures that foster continuous improvement and quality control.

As the Chief Information & Operations Officer (CIOO) at TEVET, William is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the organization’s operational and information management strategies. His role combines leadership in business operations, technology, and strategic development to drive efficiency, innovation, and business growth.

A strong advocate for cybersecurity, William has played a key role in achieving CMMC 2.0 compliance, ensuring TEVET meets the highest standards for cybersecurity maturity and data protection. He remains deeply engaged in evolving security practices and strategies to safeguard business and customer assets. Additionally, he is passionate about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to revolutionize operational efficiency, decision-making, and business strategy.

William has a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology from Penn State University and has completed the Business Intelligence program at SMU Cox School of Business. He is also Six Sigma certified, further reinforcing his expertise in process improvement and efficiency.

Guided by a commitment to integrity and results-driven leadership, he continuously seeks to optimize operations, enhance cybersecurity resilience, and embrace the transformative power of AI.

ExecutiveBiographies

Executive
Biographies