Prior to founding Kingfisher Systems, Mr. Howton was the founder and CEO of Gray Hawk Systems in 2005, a thriving defense sector business with revenues of over $70 million and over 500 employees. In 2000, Gray Hawk Systems earned a rank of 277 on the Inc. 500 List of Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies and was later purchased by ManTech International Corporation. While a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, he served in Vietnam as a Communications Officer and an Officer-in-Charge of a swift boat. Other active duty assignments included Weapons Officer, Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer, and Electronic Material Officer on US Navy destroyers.

Mr. Howton received a Master of Science degree in Physical Oceanography from the US Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Naval Science from the US Naval Academy.