The Long Game: Math, Leadership and National Security with Ed Frankovic

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson go behind closed doors with Ed Frankovic, Director and Owner at Tiber Technologies. Holding advanced mathematics degrees from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins, Ed brings over three decades of systems engineering, national security, and executive leadership experience to the table. In this candid conversation, Ed shares how prioritizing employee satisfaction and building an organic, family-oriented culture has driven Tiber Technologies to be recognized repeatedly as one of Baltimore's Top Workplaces.

• The Evolution of an Organic Tech Leader: Ed shares his career path from a mathematician analyst at PEPCO to a decade in federal government national security and leading programs for major defense contractors. He details why he chose to leave large-scale corporate management to help build Tiber Technologies into a people-centric, non-acquisition-focused business.

• Building a Top Workplace in a Dispersed Environment: Managing clearanced software engineers who work across scattered government and client facilities presents unique cultural challenges. Ed explains how Tiber fosters unity through non-mandatory off-sites, personalized 5-and-10-year service awards, and flexible, trust-first policies that measure output rather than clock-in hours.

• Scaling Up to Prime Contractor Status: Ed outlines the structural pivot required when transitioning a company from a reliable subcontractor to a primary contractor. He explains why business owners must invest heavily in back-office infrastructure, HR, and compliance before attempting to scale sales or pursue direct government contracts.

• The "Smooth" Candidate Warning Sign: Reflecting on leadership blind spots and past hiring missteps, Ed shares his key filter when interviewing senior talent: avoiding candidates who are "too smooth" or treat the interview as a performative pitch rather than a genuine conversation about values and technical capability.