Theodore (Ted) Pietz

Principal, Aquidneck Light
Contracting Officer's Representative, United States Navy

Ted Pietz has over 15 years of computer networking experience supporting the communications networks of the United States Navy at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, R.I. In January 2020, he cofounded Aquidneck Light, where an effort is underway to bring FTTP to increase access to faster, cheaper and more accessible broadband for residents and businesses on the Newport County island. The Aquidneck Light's mission is to free the Rhode Islanders captured by a monopoly landline broadband provider and is guided by old school internet ideals.

For the Department of the Navy, Pietz's role includes solving complex application integration problems and "cradle-to-grave" network support, which includes system design, end-to-end system integration and testing, system deployment onboard nuclear submarines, and in-service engineering activities. With a penchant for strong technical authorship and project management, he additionally serves as a contracting officer representative (COR) of a $31 million multiyear contract supported by over 90 contractors.

Pietz holds a master's degree in information systems and a bachelor's degree in computer science with a minor in business administration, both from the University of Maine. Since 2017, he has served in leadership roles for several municipal advisory committees, including as vice chair of the Portsmouth, R.I., economic development committee (PEDC).