President

Mr. Robin “Pug” Gutridge
As President of Cherokee Information Services, Inc, Mr. Gutridge is responsible for ensuring that Cherokee continues to provide a fair, personally and professionally rewarding work environment; a well-trained, experienced, motivated, high-performing workforce; and quality services and products, all in a cost effective, efficient, continually improving, and well managed manner.

Mr. Gutridge graduated from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Academy in 1973. After graduation, he devoted 22 years to the USCG in a variety of increasingly responsible roles. During his sea duty, he supported scientific missions in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans.

Mr. Gutridge earned his wings in 1976. His first tour as a Coast Guard Helicopter Search and Rescue pilot was in San Diego, CA. He later earned the title of “Coast Guard Aeronautical Engineer” and was responsible for maintaining various aircraft fleets in Elizabeth City, NC.

Mr. Gutridge was stationed at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for 10 years where, as a Rotary Wing Aircraft Program Manager, he was responsible for ensuring that the USCG fleet and the requisite supporting infrastructure maintained a high state of operational readiness. Mr. Gutridge managed the USCG Aviation Logistics system with an inventory of $500M that was distributed to 29 locations throughout the U.S.

Mr. Gutridge finished his Coast Guard career as the Program Manager for the Coast Guard’s HH-60 Helicopter acquisition program. This $750M project replaced the fleet of aging Coast Guard HH-3F’s. Mr. Gutridge also played key roles in transforming the USCG and Department of Transportation (DOT). He helped develop the first USCG Strategic Information Resources Management Plan. He also represented the USCG on the President’s Reorganization Team for Research and Development in DOT and reengineered DOT R&D processes to meet the then new Government Performance Results Act requirements. Mr. Gutridge graduated from the Defense Systems Management College as a Certified Program Manager, Level 3 in 1992.
After retiring from the Coast Guard in late 1995, Mr. Gutridge joined the private sector and supported the FBI in developing and deploying the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

Mr. Gutridge joined Cherokee in 1997 as the Vice President for Business Development. He was instrumental in growing the company from 39 employees to over 500 in less than five years. Mr. Gutridge became Cherokee’s President in 2002.