COL (Ret.) Al Niles, Jr.
COL (Ret.) Al Niles, Jr. is the CEO and Founder of SOLOTECH Solutions Inc., an aviation and aerospace defense company specializing in Special Operations Forces (SOF) training systems, aviation, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). He is a trusted advisor to industry and government recognized for helping organizations align operational capabilities with mission requirements, strengthen capture strategies, and expand partnerships across the global SOF and defense enterprise.
Prior to founding SOLOTECH Solutions, Al held senior executive leadership roles supporting complex aviation programs, missile defense, and space programs in Huntsville, Alabama. He led multidisciplinary teams delivering global logistics, sustainment, and aviation training solutions while advancing strategic growth, business development, and major proposal efforts. His career has consistently focused on bridging operational experience with industry innovation to enhance readiness and long-term capability development.
Al is a retired U.S. Army aviator with 30 years of service as a pilot and senior leader in both special operations and conventional aviation units. He is qualified in rotary, fixed wing aircraft and small UAS. He served as an Acquisition Officer for Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology & Logistics at U.S. Special Operations Command. He also served as the Product Manager for SOF Training Systems, supporting advanced simulation and training for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. His final military assignment was as the Project Manager for the Chinook Helicopter Program Office at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where he led acquisition and lifecycle management efforts for one of the Army’s most critical aviation platforms. His career included multiple combat deployments and senior leadership assignments in joint, interagency, and multinational environments, providing deep experience in SOF operations, aviation training, UAS, and capability development.
He holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; Master of Management Science from Florida Institute of Technology; Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and a Bachelor of Science from Tuskegee University. He is a Tuskegee University ROTC Hall of Fame inductee.
Al remains actively engaged in education, aviation, and the SOF community. He serves on multiple advisory and professional boards, including the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School Board of Directors and the University of Alabama Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics Industrial Advisory Board. He is a life member of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., and a life member of the 160th Special Operations Night Stalker Association Foundation. Through his combined operational, academic, and industry experience, he continues to advance special operations, aviation, and global defense partnerships.