Cynthia M. Crutchfield

Ms. Cynthia M. Crutchfield is the CEO of Innovate Alabama. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of corporate strategy, leads day-to-day operations ensuring the advancement of the corporation’s mission through partnerships, developing programs, and managing innovation activities. Prior to joining Innovate Alabama, Ms. Crutchfield served and the Founder/President/CEO of Crutchfield Management Consulting, where she set the strategic vision and growth plan for the company. She also served as the COO of The Crutchfield Company, a real estate investment company, providing affordable housing to college students, veterans, and underprivileged families. 

Ms. Crutchfield enjoyed a career of 40+ year within the Federal Government market as a civil servant (18 years) and as a contractor within private industry (22 years). During her 22-year career with private industry, she served in numerous positions including: Executive Vice President (Infinity Technology); Senior Vice President (AECOM); Vice President (URS, Oceus Networks and ManTech); and Program and Project Manager and Sr. Software Engineer (Computer Sciences Corporation) supporting and leading large, small, and mid-tier organizations. In these roles, she developed and executed strategic plans, growth plans and provided oversight of Profit and Loss centers for organizations where she exceeded growth goals for revenues (up to $2B) and profit goals (upwards of 15%) as well as other growth goals. She provided management and oversight of teams of up to 800 program managers, engineers and IT specialists delivering Information Technology, Aircraft Maintenance and Training, CyberSecurity, and National and Defense Intelligence services to Government customers including the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, National Aerospace and Space Agency/Jet Propulsion Lab, Department of State, the United States Army, and the United States Air Force. As an 18 year Civil Servant, her roles included: Computer Programmer at the Naval Weapons Support Center in Crane, IN; Project Leader supporting the Aircraft Maintenance Program at Gunter Air Force Base, AL; Chief, Software Development Branch at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA; Battle Management Systems Program Manager at Langley Air Force Base, VA; Information Assurance Program Manager for Systems and Communications Directorate and Chief, IT for Plans and Program Directorate both at the Pentagon, DC. 

Throughout her career, she received numerous sustained superior performance awards, won the CSC Presidents Award for Program Management, and she received the Women of Color Information Technology All-Star Award. 

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama A&M University in Computer Science where she graduated Cum Laude. She is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville Flagship Class (L-31) and completed Professional Military Education in-residence programs for Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College.

Cynthia has been married to Michael Crutchfield for 31 years, and they have one child, Michael II (21). She resides in Birmingham, AL and enjoys scrapbooking, real estate investing, and working with her sorority and other community-based organizations to provide community service.