Gardner Congdon is a Program Manager at SAIC where he oversees development of mixed reality training and education platforms. Gardner established SAIC’s Big Timber Interactive studio where the focus is on designing and developing highly engaging applications using technologies and methods gleaned from the commercial entertainment video game industry. He has managed development teams working on diverse topics such as wheeled, rotary and fixed wing vehicle operation, first aid instruction, chemistry education, and weapon and flight training. His passion lies in developing comprehensive, multiplatform/multimodal educational platforms leveraging game techniques to hack human physiology.

Prior to joining SAIC, Gardner worked in serious games development, where he established and ran Zombie Studio’s Serious Games division. He has also held leadership roles in healthcare at Ascentia Technologies, LifeCenter Northwest, and Seattle Children’s Hospital as a department administrator in Pediatric Nephrology. He has also worked in anti-counterfeiting, serving as Vice President for Planning and Development at Stardust Technologies.

Gardner earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree, Cum Laude, in Business Administration with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of New Hampshire. He is a member of the International Game Developer’s Association.

Gardner lives in Maine with his wonderful wife and amazing son, needy pets and burdensome debts. The Congdons bike (road, mountain, cyclocross), sail, surf, XC ski and freedive. Always a builder, Gardner has a lifelong interest in wood and metal working. His TIG welds are improving.