Relle Howard is a seasoned technology and operations executive with decades of leadership experience across the public and private sectors. His expertise spans information technology transformation, cybersecurity, business process optimization, and strategic data initiatives. Known for his ability to align IT with enterprise goals, Relle consistently delivers measurable results by building high-performing teams and cultivating strong partnerships across organizational lines.
He began his professional journey as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division, where he served in both executive and fire direction leadership roles. Following his military service, he joined Alcatel Telecommunications, advancing to lead post-sales services across all Bell accounts with full P&L responsibility for a $50 million portfolio.
Relle transitioned into Information Technology with Celanese Chemicals, where he served as Business Demand Manager before relocating to Shanghai to build and lead the company’s Asia IT organization. His leadership supported business expansion in China and connected operations across Asia, Europe, and North America. Upon returning to the U.S., he formed and led manufacturing IT organization globally for the corporation.
Relle moved to Flowserve Corporation as the Vice President of IT for two of the three major business divisions. He was responsible for creating and executing global technology strategy, including foundational infrastructure, business system applications and analytics. He led the consolidation of ERP systems globally and brought over 70% of total revenue on centralized systems. Here Relle assumed the role of Chief Information Officer. In this role, he brought all technology resources together and aligned them closely with the CEO and business leadership.
Relle then moved to Trinity Industries, where he played a central leadership role in transforming the company’s use of technology through a comprehensive digital and operational overhaul - from foundational infrastructure to enterprise systems and analytics. Key focus areas included: Redesign and deployment of the corporate network, data center migration to a third-party managed service, launch of a company-wide mobility strategy and cybersecurity program, establishment of a new analytics practice, global ERP consolidation and deployment of modern systems for CRM, HR, and Finance, and master data transformation across the enterprise.
Relle also spearheaded the technology spin-off of Arcosa, a multi-billion-dollar company. He led the end-to-end separation and deployment of key enterprise systems, negotiated all technology contracts, and provided 18 months of transition services support post-spin.
He established Trinity’s first near-shore shared services center in Querétaro, Mexico—expanding from an initial team of 25 to 85 employees—streamlining operational efficiency and enabling scalable support.
As Chief Administrative Officer, Relle was responsible for Information Technology, Human Resources, Corporate Security, Corporate Aircraft Operations, and Facilities Services. He led the successful relocation of Trinity’s global headquarters, overseeing site selection, lease negotiation, construction, and project management for a 155,000-square-foot, $20 million facility—delivered six weeks ahead of schedule and $1 million under budget.
In 2023, Relle founded RH Strategies LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) focused on delivering information technology solutions to federal and state government agencies. RH Strategies specializes in infrastructure modernization, cloud migration, cybersecurity compliance, data and analytics, and artificial intelligence enablement. The firm operates through a consortium of specialized vendor partners with deep domain expertise across infrastructure, software, and advanced data technologies. This model provides government clients with scalable, secure, and cost-effective delivery for complex technology initiatives. Under Relle’s leadership, RH Strategies ensures seamless execution, combining military precision with executive-level insight to support mission-critical objectives.
Relle holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.