Mr. Cory Cunningham is the President and founder of Sustainable Industries (SusInd), a prime contractor for the US and international governments in energy, water and fuel sectors. Mr. Cunningham concurrently runs the operations and finance for Hyperlight Energy, a US Department of Energy sponsored solar-thermal research and development company. Additionally, Colonel Cunningham is an active Marine Corps Reservist with 30 years of military service as a United States Marine.
Leading SusInd, Mr. Cunningham has executed over $55MM in international water filtration contracts with US and Iraqi partners. Prior to founding Sustainable industries, Mr. Cunningham navigated successful careers in real estate and the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, he founded and operated a real estate investment group, where he profitably acquired, managed and sold single and multi-family properties. After serving as an active duty Marine, Mr. Cunningham directed corporate and property operations for a $1.1 billion / 9.4 million square foot real estate portfolio until founding Sustainable Industries. Mr. Cunningham has over 20 years’ experience in real estate and construction.
In addition to business ventures, Col Cunningham currently serves as Commanding Officer of Marine Air Training Support Group (MATSG) 42. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1988, was commissioned as an officer and served primarily as a CH-53E helicopter pilot. He has deployed worldwide, with five deployments and three combat tours supporting Iraq and Afghanistan, receiving two Air Medals for over 200 hours in combat air missions. He has received Navy Commendation Medals for directing the global movement of over 25,000 Marines and 2,000 tons of equipment while in combat and a second award in peacetime for university recognized leadership as an Adjunct Professor at UCLA.
Mr. Cunningham is a LEED Accredited Professional, a licensed General Contractor (CSLB#969777), a commercial rated rotary and multi-engine pilot and was recognized as a 2011 Top Influential in San Diego Defense Industry. Mr. Cunningham holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Construction Engineering Management from Oregon State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Anderson School at the University of California, Los Angeles. He serves on multiple non-profit boards and resides in Pacific Beach with his wife Melissa and their three daughters.
