Rep. Glenn Nye

Congressman Virginia's 2nd District

Congressman Glenn Nye represents Virginia's 2nd District, which includes the communities of Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. A fifth-generation resident of the district, Nye is a former Foreign Service officer who spent more than ten years overseas, volunteering to serve in conflict zones around the world including Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Assigned to the reconstruction effort in Kosovo in 2001, Nye received the State Department's Superior Honor Award for organizing the rescue of 26 American citizens who were being held behind insurgent lines, and for negotiating the release of an American hostage. Nye was next assigned to the US Embassy in Singapore, where he helped to negotiate intellectual property agreements that protected American businesses and entrepreneurs. Glenn Nye at the USAID compound in Baghdad, Iraq, 2007.Less than a year later, in 2002, Nye signed up to go to Afghanistan with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). He spent more than a year as part of the State Department's team responsible for managing the Afghan Constitutional Convention and assisting with the Presidential election. After returning home, Nye continued his work supporting democracy in the Middle East, working to organize absentee balloting for Iraqis living in the United States, and later, managing a USAID community development program in the West Bank and Gaza. In 2007, Nye again volunteered to return to a war zone, this time in Iraq. He spent nearly a year working as an advisor for a USAID program tasked with combating the insurgency by creating jobs and stabilizing neighborhoods. In the end, the effort was able to create employment for over 70,000 Iraqis. Glenn Nye was sworn in as the new Representative from Virginia's 2nd District on January 6th, 2009. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee in addition to serving as the Chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology. Read More

James E. Thomsen

Principal Civilian Deputy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)

Mr. Thomsen is currently the Principal Civilian Deputy Assistant Secretary (Research Development & Acquisition). His responsibilities include leadership of the technical workforce, acquisition workforce, and systems engineering. Mr. Thomsen was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service in November 1998 and has 27 years of Federal service. From 2006 to July 2008, Mr. Thomsen served as the Program Executive Officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO LMW). As PEO LMW, he had life cycle responsibility to design, produce, field, and support war fighting capability for the littoral battle space and for the global war on terrorism. Mr. Thomsen led seven program offices that comprised 224 programs ranging from Acquisition Category (ACAT) I through ACAT IV and included several developmental programs that addressed urgent war fighting needs for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2003, Mr. Thomsen was selected as the Executive Director for the PEO, LMW where he executed the Navy's material acquisition programs for Integrated Undersea Surveillance, Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal /Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Programs, Naval Special Warfare, Mine Warfare Surface and Aviation, Unmanned Maritime Vehicles, Naval Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Ashore and Afloat, and Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules for Anti-Submarine Warfare, Mine Warfare, and Anti-Surface Warfare. In September 2002, Mr. Thomsen was assigned as Head of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Dahlgren Division's Weapons Systems Department, directing over 550 scientists, engineers, technicians, and advancing key technical achievements in Naval Surface Weapons systems. Mr. Thomsen was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service in November 1998 and then named as Head, Coastal Warfare Systems Department directing all of the Expeditionary and Littoral Warfare RDT&E programs at Naval Surface Warfare Center (Panama City) which included 360 scientists, engineers, technicians, and military personnel. Prior to 1998, Mr. Thomsen served as Program Manager for Mine Warfare programs; Senior Systems Engineer for the Shallow Water Mine Countermeasures program; Project Manager for the ACAT 1D Joint US/UK Surface Ship Torpedo Defense program; and Head, Torpedo Defense Systems Development Branch, and served as the System Integration Agent in Submarine Torpedo Defense Countermeasure programs for PMS 415. In the early years of his career, he held engineering positions including design engineer, test engineer, project engineer, and systems engineer for several undersea warfare programs at Carderock, Panama City, and NAVSEA Headquarters. Mr. Thomsen began his technical career as an acoustic analyst with the international firm, Dames and Moore Environmental Engineering Inc. He started his 27 years of civilian service in 1981 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Carderock, Maryland, serving as a design/test engineer in the Submarine Acoustics Division. Mr. Thomsen received his bachelor's degree in ocean engineering from Florida Atlantic University in 1981 and his master's of science degree from Florida State University in 1988. In 1998, Mr. Thomsen was awarded the National Defense Industrial Association Bronze Medal for his achievements in Mine Warfare. In 1991, he received the Commanding Officer/Technical Director Award for special achievement in technical management. Read More

Vice Admiral Kevin M. McCoy

Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command

A native of Long Island, Vice Admiral McCoy graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. At sea, Vice Admiral McCoy served aboard USS DANIEL WEBSTER (SSBN 626) and as Repair Officer aboard USS L.Y. SPEAR (AS 36). In these assignments, he earned his Submarine Engineering Duty Qualification and his Surface Warfare Qualification. He was also awarded the Claud A. Jones Award from the American Society of Naval Engineers as "Fleet Engineer of the Year" during his tour aboard USS L.Y. SPEAR (AS 36). Ashore, Vice Admiral McCoy served in numerous assignments in the Naval Shipyards, including assignment to Mare Island, Charleston, Norfolk, Puget Sound, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyards. From 2001-2004, he served as the 80th Commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Vice Admiral McCoy earned a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and an Engineer's Degree in Naval Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Emory University. Upon selection to Flag rank, Vice Admiral McCoy served as Assistant Deputy Commander of Industrial Operations of the Naval Sea Systems Command from 2004-2005. From 2005-2008, he served as the NAVSEA Chief Engineer. Vice Admiral McCoy became the 42nd Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command in August 2008. Read More

Rear Admiral Nevin P. Carr, Jr.

Chief of Naval Research

Director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements

Rear Admiral Nevin Carr has spent his Navy career at sea in cruisers and destroyers, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, North and South Atlantic, South Pacific, Baltic, Caribbean and Red Seas. Shipboard tours included USS King (DDG 41); USS McCandless (FF 1084); USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51); USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); Cruiser/Destroyer Group 8 staff embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); and the 2nd Fleet staff embarked in USS Mt. Whitney (LCC 20). He commanded USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71), winning Battle Efficiency Awards and Golden Anchors in both tours. While in command of Cape St. George, the ship participated in combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in both the European and Central Command theaters. Ashore, Carr has served in the office of the Secretary of Defense where he worked on the Arleigh Burke, Ticonderoga and Seawolf programs, and several Ballistic Missile Defense programs. He later served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations as requirements officer for the Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer programs, and was executive assistant to the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Following promotion to flag rank in 2006 he was assigned as the deputy director of Surface Warfare for Combat Systems and Weapons, and later as deputy assistant Secretary of the Navy (International Programs) and director, Navy International Program Office. Carr graduated in 1979 from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture. He received his Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. In December 2008, he became the 22nd chief of Naval Research, with additional duties as director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements. Read More

Howard Pace Jr.

Deputy Joint Program Executive Officer Joint Tactical Radio System

Mr. Howard Pace is the Deputy Joint Program Executive Officer for Joint Tactical Radio System (DJPEO JTRS) and is a member of the Senior Executive Service. He is responsible for overseeing the JTRS program, which was initiated in early 1997 in response to the Services' pursuit of separate solutions to develop a programmable, modular, multi-mode, multi-band radio to replace existing legacy radios in the Department of Defense (DoD) inventory. The JTRS program has since evolved from a radio replacement program to a mobile, ad hoc networking program to provide voice and data to warfighters via a variety of military and civilian radio systems. Additionally, JTRS includes Wideband Networking Software to implement full-featured mobile ad hoc networks. Mr. Pace was named the DJPEO in December 2006. He currently serves on the Department of Defense Board of Directors, as the JTRS Representative at the GIG Senior Systems Engineering Board. Mr. Pace's naval career begun with his enlistment in the United States Navy in 1978, he served on two Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines, a Submarine Tender, and a Torpedo Retriever. He obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer and served as the Lead Instructor at Strategic Weapons System Team Trainer in Bangor, WA. Mr. Pace was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program, and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington. After he was commissioned, he graduated with distinction and received the Arleigh Burke Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence from the Surface Warfare Officer's Course. He also attended the FFG-7 Weapons and AEGIS Combat Systems Officer courses, in which he graduated from both with distinction. Serving on USS ELROD (FFG-55), USS SAN JACINTO (CG-56) and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73), Mr. Pace participated in operations DESERT STORM, SOUTHERN WATCH, DENY FLIGHT, JOINT ENDEAVOR, and SUPPORT DEMOCRACY. Mr. Pace completed a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School and attended the Engineering Duty Officer Basic School where he received the Founder's award. Mr. Pace served at the Space and Naval Warfare System Center San Diego (SSC-SD), where he was the Joint Tactical Radio System Wideband Network Waveform Chief Engineer, and the Office of Naval Research Principal Investigator for wireless networking communications research. Mr. Pace completed his active duty career in the U.S. Navy in 2002 at the Space and Naval Warfare System Command as the Communication Systems, Directorate Chief Engineer. After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Pace returned to the government as a civil servant, in the role of the PEO C4I and Space Technical Director. Mr. Pace was the PEO C4I and Space Technical Director from December 2002 - March 2005, providing system engineering oversight and networking/communication expertise to the Navy/Joint Telecommunications and Networking communities. Read More

David Metzger

Partner, Arnold and Porter LLP

David P. Metzger practices in the area of government contracts. His practice concentrates on all aspects of federal government contracting law, including litigation, bid protests, claims, and contract administration issues. Metzger has prosecuted and defended a large number of bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), agencies, the Court of Federal Claims, and other forums. He has defended terminations for default, prosecuted claims before the Boards of Contract Appeals, initiated and defended suits in the federal district courts involving government prime contractors and subcontractors, and brought appeals on behalf of small businesses before the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) of the SBA. Metzger has drafted and litigated teaming and joint venture agreements, advised clients on a wide variety of statutes and regulations affecting government contracts, and handled matters involving audits and investigations, A-76 challenges, commercial items, flow-down clauses, government contracts compliance, cost and pricing, employment, enhanced use leasing and privatization, extraordinary contractual relief, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, GSA Schedules and Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), intellectual property and technical data rights, past performance, performance-based contracting, licensing, research consortia, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and other small business programs, suspension and debarment, technology transfer, trade secrets, and other issues. Metzger has successfully defended cost and pricing and executive compensation disputes with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), dealt with Inspectors General, and resolved allegations of fraud and wrongdoing before the Department of Justice. He is a past president of the Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association (BCABA). He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCABA, and Chairman of the BCABA's Executive Policy Forum. He serves as the current chair of the General Counsel's Committee of the Professional Services Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Small Business Technology Coalition. Metzger is also a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School and serves as co-chair of the ABA Public Contract Law Section Special Committee on ADR. Metzger is a member of the Virginia, District of Columbia and Wisconsin Bar Associations, and admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Federal Claims, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and numerous federal district courts. Prior to entering private practice, he served for four years on Capitol Hill as an Administrative Assistant to a U.S. Representative and as Staff Director to the House Subcommittee on Energy, Environment, Safety and Research. He also served for four years as Director for Innovation and Procurement Policy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Read More

Rear Admiral William E. "Bill" Landay, III

Program Executive Officer for Ships, Washington

Rear Admiral Bill Landay graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1978 and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer. His first assignment was as gunnery assistant and combat information center officer aboard USS Hepburn (FF 1055). Subsequent sea tours included ship control officer aboard USS Nicholas (FFG 47), commanding officer of USS Aquila (PHM 4), and commanding officer of USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60). During Landay's tour, Paul Hamilton was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" for operational performance, two Silver Anchor awards for retention excellence and the Spokane Trophy for outstanding Combat Systems Readiness. Ashore, he has served as a team training instructor and Harpoon course director at Fleet Combat Training Center, Pacific; C4I program officer and executive assistant to the Director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems at the United States Transportation Command. Acquisition tours included assignment as surface, strike and underwater warfare manager and Fleet support officer in the Aegis Program Office; executive assistant to the Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; deputy for Fleet and Lifetime Support in the Program Executive Office, Theater Surface Combatants; and executive assistant and Naval Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). As a flag officer he served as the program executive officer for littoral and mine warfare from 2004 through 2005, as chief of Naval Research, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for Science and Technology and director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements from 2006 to 2008. In August 2008, Landay became program executive officer for Ships. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Systems Technology (C4I) from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School. He was the 1998-99 Navy Fellow in the Defense Systems Management College, Military Research Fellowship Program. He is a level 3 certified acquisition professional and a proven subspecialist in C4I Systems. Landay's personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3 awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), as well as various unit awards Read More

Rear Admiral Steven R. Eastburg

Program Executive Officer for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs, PEO(A)

A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, RDML Eastburg graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Upon completion of Naval Flight Officer flight training, he reported to Air Anti-submarine Squadron (VS) 41 in San Diego for fleet replacement training in the S-3A Viking. He then reported to VS-38, where he made deployments to the Pacific, Western Pacific and Indian Oceans aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) and USS RANGER (CV-61). RDML Eastburg then served as Operational Test Dire r at Operational Test and Evaluation Force, San Diego. He earned a M.S. in Systems Management from USC and was redesignated an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. He subsequently completed the Naval Postgraduate School - Naval Test Pilot School Cooperative Program, earning a M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, the Aeronautical Engineer's Degree and TPS diploma. His next assignment was as an S-3A/B Project Officer VX-20. Upon completion of the DAU Advanced Program Manager's Course, he assumed duties as Deputy Program Manager in the Tomahawk Program Office (PMA-280). He was then assigned as the Executive Assistant to the NAVAIR Deputy Commander for Acquisition and Operations. From November 1998 to June 2002 RDML Eastburg served as Chief Test Pilot and Commanding Officer, VX-20, Patuxent River, MD. During this period, the command was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the CNO Safety Award. He served as the NAVAIR Avionics Department Head prior to being assigned as Program Manager, Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (PMA-290) in November 2002. He was responsible for acquisition and life-cycle support of Navy P-3, P-8, EP-3, ACS, S-3 and foreign military sales programs totaling $16 billion. RDML Eastburg was then assigned as Deputy Program Executive Officer for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs. He assumed responsibilities in July 2006 as Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and NAVAIR Assistant Commander for Research and Engineering. He currently serves as Program Executive Officer for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs, PEO(A). RDML Eastburg's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards). Read More

Walter F. Jones, Ph.D.

Executive Director
Office of Naval Research

Dr. Walter F. Jones joined the Office of Naval Research in September 2007, as Executive Director. Dr. Jones is the senior civilian manager at ONR, and provides executive, technical, and scientific direction in the performance of ONR's mission of planning and managing science and technology research for the Department of the Navy. He works closely with ONR's Directorate leads in the identification, prioritization, and support of specific areas of science and technology development. Dr. Jones most recently was Director, Plans and Programs, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He was responsible for developing and managing the processes that defined AFRL's $3-billion annual investment in technologies for future Air Force systems. These systems include space, weapons, aeronautics, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Dr. Jones has held a wide variety of positions in government and academia. He has served as Director, Aerospace and Materials Sciences, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va. In this capacity, he planned, coordinated, and executed a $55-million basic research program, including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials science, and propulsion. He has also served as a senior program analyst with the Office of the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management. He has held several positions with the Air Force, including Deputy for Research Sciences with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and Deputy for Science and Technology with the Office of the National Security Space Architect. In addition, Dr. Jones has held faculty positions at the University of Florida, University of Tennessee, and Clemson University. Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. and M.S. in engineering mechanics and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. He also has an M.S. in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Ft. Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. Read More

John E. White

Director of Engineering
F-35 Lightning II Program Office

John E. White is the Director of Engineering for the F-35 Lightning II Program Office in Arlington, VA. The Joint Strike Fighter Program Office is the Department of Defense's agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35A/B/C, the next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and many allied nations. Mr. White was born August 23, 1946, in Houston, Texas, and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Engineering. He earned a Masters of Science in Computer and Software Engineering from the National University at San Diego, California, in May 1987. He served as Dean of Computer Sciences and Systems Engineering at National University from 1992 to 1997 and as a Chapter Chair at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He completed the Defense Systems Management College in 1995, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2002 and the Defense Leadership and Management Program in June 2006. Mr. White served almost 13 years on active duty with Army Intelligence and the National Security Agency as a field operative in foreign weapons systems. Mr. White also spent five years working in commercial industry for Mobil Oil and Clorox Corporation as an engineering foreman and plant manager. In 1983, Mr. White joined SYSCON Corporation at Sacramento, California, where he was responsible for engineering and project management for the US Navy's Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System program and the F-111 Avionics Dynamic Test Station program. In December 1988,. Mr. White joined the Air Force Civil Service and until June 1997, he was assigned to the Aircraft Directorate and ATF/F-22 Program at McClellan AFB and Wright-Patterson AFB, respectively. He functioned as the Integrated Product Team Lead for Computer Resources, Offensive Avionics, Stores Management and Sustainment Planning. He also served as the Weapon Systems Engineering Lead and the Technical/Engineering Planning Lead. In July 1999, Mr. White accepted the position as Senior Systems Engineer for HQ AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, where he led the Command's efforts in implementing Operational Safety Suitability and Effectiveness policies and directives. He was also the Command's Chief Engineer for Modeling and Simulation. In September 2000, Mr. White took a management reassignment as Chief Engineer and Enterprise Planner for the Aging Aircraft Program Office at Aeronautical Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB. Mr. White defined the role of the Program Office, established a joint aging aircraft steering committee and lobbied successfully for a process to define retirement criteria/process for aircraft in the Air Force inventory. In October 2002, Mr. White was assigned to the KC-767A Program Office where he served as the Deputy Director and Director of Engineering, responsible for defining many innovative program strategies and authoring a number of acquisition and program documents associated with the acquisition of a new multi-role tanker/transport aircraft. In July 2003, Mr. White assumed responsibility as the Deputy Director for Science and Engineering for the Engineering and Acquisition Excellence Directorate, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Florida. He provided technical, logistics and program-management expertise to develop, acquire and sustain the world's finest air armament weapon systems. He was also responsible for developing and advancing over 900 Scientists and Engineers and more than $4B in policies, processes and tools to deliver precision-strike capabilities to the warfighter. From June 2006 until June 2007, Mr. White was the Deputy Director for Weapons Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base FL. In this capacity, he shared in the management and direction of the directorate and provided administrative and technical guidance to a staff of more than 500 scientists and engineers, developing air-launched conventional munitions technology. The activities of the Munitions Directorate include research on missile seekers, navigation and control, image processing, munition integration, warheads, fuzing, explosives and technology assessment methodology. Mr. White assumed his present duties in June 2007. Read More

John D. Burrow

Executive Director MARCORSYSCOM

Mr. Burrow was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in December 2004. He currently serves as the Executive Director, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), which is responsible for the Research, Development and Acquisition of equipment and systems for the ground element of the Marine Corps. Mr. Burrow provides executive direction and oversight of command-wide resources, acquisition strategies, management systems, and programs. Prior to his position as the Executive Director, Mr. Burrow served as the Deputy Commander, System Engineering, Interoperability, Architectures and Technology (SIAT) for Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC). As the Deputy Commander, SIAT, Mr. Burrow was responsible for leading Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) systems engineering and integration efforts, ensuring Marine Corps systems interoperability with coalition and Joint forces, and identifying and pursuing science and technology transition opportunities for Marine Corps systems. Mr. Burrow also served as the Systems Engineering Competency Director, the Technical Authority Deputy Warranting Officer, and the lead for the Marine Corps System Engineering Community of Interest. Prior to reporting to MCSC, Mr. Burrow served as Department Head, Force Warfare Systems, for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). As Head of the Force Warfare Systems Department, Mr. Burrow was responsible for the leadership and supervision of over 400 scientists and engineers. During this period, Mr. Burrow also served as the Naval Sea Systems Command Technical Warrant Holder for Combat and Weapon Control Systems and the Technical Process Owner for Navy Open Architecture. Mr. Burrow has previously served as the Director of Systems Engineering for the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (October 2003 – December 2004); the NSWCDD Maritime Defense Division Head, Theater Warfare Systems Department (2001-2003); the Surface Ship and Combat Systems Engineering Division Head, Combat Systems Department (1997-2001); the NSWCDD Program Manager for the 21st Century Surface Combatant (1995-2001); and the Technical Director of the Navy's DD 21 Technical Team (TECH TEAM 21) (1997-2001). Mr. Burrow also served as the Principal Instructor and Coordinator of the Surface Ship Combat System Engineering curriculum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Professional Summer for Naval Engineers (1996-1997). Mr. Burrow is a Certified Level III Acquisition Professional in the Advanced Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (SPRDE) and Program Management (PM) acquisition career fields. Mr. Burrow has 24 years of civilian service. Mr. Burrow holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi (1983) and a Masters of Public Administration degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1997). Read More

Joseph P. Lawrence III, Ph.D.

Director of Transition
Office of Naval Research

Joseph P. Lawrence III, Ph.D., received a B.S.E.E. from the University of Maryland, College Park, an M.S.E. from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park, all in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Lawrence started his career as a member of the technical staff at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., in 1966, initially with the Radar Division, working on a variety of radar and multi-sensor integration projects. He later joined the NRL Tactical Electronic Warfare (EW) Division, where he was responsible for anti-ship missile engagement modeling development and applications, as well as a large variety of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems analyses, development, and evaluation efforts as Head of the Advanced EW Systems Section. Subsequently, as Head of the Surface Electronic Warfare Systems Branch, he was responsible for research and development of systems and techniques spanning the full timeline of surface EW engagement. Dr. Lawrence was selected to be the ONR Manager for the Fleet/Force Protection Future Naval Capability (FNC) initiative in 2000, where he was responsible for a wide range of applied S&T including platform signatures, sensors, HM&E, and defensive weapons. He was appointed as the Director of the ONR Surveillance, Communications and Electronic Combat Division (ONR 313) in September 2001. In this latter position he was responsible for performance of DoN S&T in the areas of surveillance (RF and EO/IR), communications, navigation (including GPS), and electronic warfare. In 2004 he was detailed as Associate Technical Director - Transitions (ATD-T) for the Office of Naval Research, and as such has responsibility within ONR for approximately one third of the DoN S&T budget, including FNCs and ACTDs. In 2005 he was formally selected as the ATD-T, which has since been re-titled as the Director of Transitions. He is a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service. Read More

Dr. James B. Sheehy

Chief Technology Officer
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

Dr. Sheehy, a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2000, is the Chief Technology Officer of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). As Chief Technology Officer he oversees the department's research portfolio, ranging from advanced integrated life support systems to helmet mounted displays to ejection seats to knowledge management products. Dr. Sheehy, one of NAVAIR's esteemed fellows, has an MS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University. He continues to conduct original research in the areas of helmet mounted displays, optics, nonlinear materials and their application to agile laser eye protection. Dr. Sheehy has over 170 publications and presentations, several patents, and is active in several professional societies. Read More

James H. Smerchansky

Director for Above Water Sensor and
Director of Technology Development and Transition, PEO-IWS

James H. Smerchansky is a native of Girard, Ohio. He attended Youngstown State University graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1992, he received a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He began his career at the Naval Sea Combat Systems Engineering Station (SEABAT) in Norfolk, VA as an In-Service engineer on Submarine Combat Systems. In 1989, he transferred to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. At NAVSEA he held various engineering and project management positions within the Submarine Combat Systems community including Chief Engineer for Submarine Sonar. As the lead for the development of the Sonar System for the Virginia Class Submarine he initiated an effort to merge legacy sonar systems with the Virginia Class baseline. This Integrated Development Program (IDP) was the first of its kind for Submarines and marked the beginning of the use of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) products to provide sonar system performance to the operational fleet. In 1997, Mr. Smerchansky became the manager of the Towed Acoustics Systems Program responsible for life-cycle management of all submarine towed array and towed array handling systems. As a result of his efforts to advance towed array reliability through the use of next generation technology, Mr. Smerchansky was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. In 2001, he was assigned as the Deputy Program Manager, Strategic and Attack Submarines. He was charged with the support and modernization of the SSN688/SSN21/SSBN 726 Class Submarines to meet the Navy missions of the 21st Century. From 2002 – 2004, Mr. Smerchansky was the Science and Technology Advisor to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he assisted and advised the Commander in the identification of technologies having a critical impact on combat readiness. He was responsible to leverage the DoN S&T community to provide rapid technology insertions, long-term investment strategy and surge capability in support of high priority Fleet issues. In recognition of his long-lasting contributions to the operating forces in the Pacific, he was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award. Upon returning to Washington, D.C., Mr. Smerchansky became the Deputy Executive Director for Undersea Technology at the Naval Sea Systems Command. He was responsible to identify opportunities to merge evolving technologies into the development of ongoing or planned programs, and assess and implement initiatives for applications of technological innovations into existing fleet operational platforms. Mr. Smerchansky was selected to the Senior Executive Service in August 2006 and is currently the Director for Above Water Sensor and the Director of Technology Development and Transition in Program Executive Officer, Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO-IWS). Additionally, he is responsible for the acquisition of the $1.6 Billion Cobra Judy Replacement Program. Mr. Smerchansky is married to the former Loretta Adams of Boardman, Ohio. They reside in Arlington, Virginia with their three children; Madeline (13), Jake (11) and Luke (9). Read More

Gary C. Wang

Director of the Science, Technology and Engineering Department
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command

Mr. Gary C. Wang is Director of the Science, Technology and Engineering Department at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego. He also serves as Chief Technology Officer for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. Mr. Wang is responsible for the coordination of scientific and technical programs for the Center, serving as the technical authority in directing the formulation of future technical alternatives to satisfy military needs and the transition of technology into naval capabilities, rapidly, affordably and efficiently. Mr. Wang entered the Senior Executive Service and assumed his current position in 2005. From 1988 to 2004, he served Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in several managerial positions. He was Program Manager for Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Information Operations (2004-2005) and was responsible for development and acquisition of Navy crypto logic, meteorological (METOC), operational effects, and intelligence software programs; As Chief Information Office program manager (1998-2001) he was responsible for Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, policy and information assurance; he was Program Manager for Naval Electronic Combat Surveillance Systems (NECSS) (2001 to 2004); Assistant Program Manager for Combat Direction Finding; Division Director for Technology Transition(1990-1998) and Test, Evaluation and Software Manager for SIGINT programs (1988-1990). Mr. Wang began his federal career in 1983 at Naval Underwater Systems Center as a project engineer on the MK-48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedo program. Mr. Wang received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. Mr. Wang has also received two Special Act Awards, and two Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards. Read More