Richard SaburroRichard Saburro began his appointment at Linc, The Lighting Cultivator in February, 2009. His responsibilities include working with Rensselaer’s Lighting Research Center to commercialize lighting products and services. He comes to Linc with broad based leadership and management experience from the military, academe and private business. Prior to this position Mr. Saburro was President and CEO of StarfireSystems, Inc. from July, 2001 to December, 2008. Starfire, a global leader in advanced ceramic materials, grew from $400,000 to $4.5 million in revenue under Saburro’s leadership and commercialized leading edge performance products in aerospace, automotive and electronics. Prior to his time at Starfire Saburro completed a four-year US Air Force active duty assignment as a colonel and Commander of Support Forces Antarctica. In this position, as the senior ranking US military commander in New Zealand and Antarctica, he was responsible for transitioning the US Antarctic Program from 45 years of US Navy command to the Air Force. The Director of National Science Foundation and the National Science Board formally recognized him for his accomplishments, including the South Pole rescue of Dr Jerri Nielson and for hosting a visit by President Clinton. Mr. Saburro retired from the military in April, 2001 after 31 years of service.
Saburro held a number of positions in technology development in the Capital Region, prior to his Antarctic assignment, while carrying on his military career as a pilot in the New York Air National Guard. His technology development positions included Deputy Director for Business Development at University at Albany’s New York State Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology (now Albany Nanotech) and Business Analyst at the Center for Economic Growth. He was recognized for his accomplishments in assisting high technology companies as the first New York State winner of the Small Business Administration’s national Tibbetts award.
Mr. Saburro developed his skills in manufacturing management at General Electric Company where he graduated from their Manufacturing Management Program in 1979. He advanced rapidly at GE to manager of manufacturing engineering for Power Capacitors in Hudson Falls, NY. In this position he led the “Factory with a Future” program and introduced “Just in Time” manufacturing to the department.
Prior to his GE career, Mr. Saburro served on active military duty in the US Air Force as a pilot of the C-141 jet transport on worldwide cargo missions including presidential support. He graduated from Union College in 1970 with a B.S. in physics. Mr. Saburro lives in Saratoga and has three grown daughters.
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