The Navy has continued to accelerate acquisition channels, modernize emerging technologies and increase research and development to become more effective in warfare. As the Navy continues to evolve to meet the growing demands, challenges still remain.
Today, Potomac Officers Club will host its 2020 Navy Forum virtually! You still have time to join the event and hear notable industry and federal leaders discuss the initiatives, efficiencies and challenges the service branch faces as well as how to join together to improve the future of warfare.
To register for the 2020 Navy Forum, and view upcoming events, visit Potomac Officers Club’s Event Page.
Potomac Officers Club’s virtual forum will feature keynote speaker, James “Hondo” Geurts, assistant secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN (RD&A)) with the U.S. Navy, as well as an expert panel. Susan Lawrence, managing director of the Joint Forces Sector with Accenture Federal Services (AFS) and Wash100 Award recipient, will moderate the panel.
Keynote Speaker: James “Hondo” Geurts
As the Navy’s acquisition executive, Geurts has oversight of an annual budget in excess of $100 billion and is responsible for equipping and supporting the finest Sailors and Marines in the world with the best platforms, systems and technology as they operate around the globe in defense of the nation.
Geurts recently discussed the challenges and initiatives within the U.S. Navy as the service branch spearheads modernization efforts. He focused primarily on unmanned systems, and stated the various elements in which the Navy will continue to develop.
“From my perspective, the biggest challenge in the unmanned arena is not the technology, per se. There’s certainly some technology elements to work on,” Geurts said. “It’s really the concept of operations, the command and control, the concept of employment… We’ve got to balance that with proven discipline, programmatics, and that’s the balance we’re working to put together right now.”
Moderator: Susan Lawrence
Lawrence currently leads the AFS’ Armed Forces portfolio within the National Security practice. In this role, Lawrence regularly engages with clients to develop and execute technology transformation and mission-support strategies to deter, deflect and defeat today’s evolving threats.
Prior to joining AFS, as the Army’s CIO/G-6, Lawrence managed the defense enterprise systems, IT infrastructure, Command & Control (C4) solutions and advanced technology used by the military warfighter and the supporting civilian workforce.
Additionally, she helped develop the U.S. Army Cyber Command and worked directly with senior staff members, including the secretary of the Army and the chief of staff of the Army, to reduce costs and improve the effectiveness of cyber and other IT solutions.
Panelist: CAPT Frank Futcher
CAPT Frank Futcher, NavalX director with the U.S. Navy, will serve as a panelist during Potomac Officers Club’s 2020 Navy Forum.
Prior to Futcher’s current assignment, he was deputy department chair of Defense Strategy, Acquisition, and Resourcing Department, and director and faculty lead for the Emerging Technologies Industry Study at the National Defense University.
While at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Futcher was the Navy’s lead for accelerating implementation of additive manufacturing across the U.S. Navy and supervised the development of the Navy’s first Additive Manufacturing Vision and the Department of the Navy’s first Additive Manufacturing Roadmap.
Panelist: CAPT Matt Farr
CAPT Matt Farr, global executive director for the Office of Naval Research, will serve as a panelist during Potomac Officers Club’s virtual forum. Before his current role, Farr served as deputy program manager of PMA-264 Air ASW Systems, leading five IPTs and coordinating a $1.3 billion program across the FYDP.
Prior to commissioning, Farr began his career in the Nuclear Power Program, completing Nuclear Field Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Orlando, FL before being selected for the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI.
He holds a Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase One certificate from the Air Command and Staff College. He holds Level III certifications in both Program Management and Engineering, along with Level II Test and Evaluation and Level I Science and Technology Management certifications.
Panelist: CAPT Ricardo Vigil
Ricardo Vigil, Commanding Officer, Navy Research Lab of U.S. Navy, will serve as a Panelist during Potomac Officers Club’s 2020 Navy Forum. Virgil previously reported as officer-in-charge (OIC) SPAWAR Middle East Detachment at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) / United States Fifth Fleet in Bahrain from February 2009 to April 2010.
He then served as assistant program manager (APM) for the Command and Control Systems (PMW-150) program office from April 2010 to September 2011, where he delivered Joint Range Extension to the fleet providing high throughput LINK-16 and LINK-22 connectivity.
From October 2014 to March 2017, Vigil served as the principal APM for Directed Energy Weapons branch in the Above Water Sensors Program Office (PEO IWS 2.0).
Panelist: MG Greg Masiello
MG Greg Masiello, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)), will serve as a panelist during the virtual forum.
Masiello assumed his current position as the PEO(A) in May 2018. Before joining the division, he served as V-22 joint program manager with PMA-275, from August 2009 to July 2013. Masiello also served as senior military assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, from July 2013 to August 2014.
From August 2014 to November 2015, he served as F-35 joint program director of Follow-on Development. In November 2015, Masiello assumed the role as the assistant commander for Logistics & Industrial Operations with Naval Air Systems Command.
To register for the 2020 Navy Forum, and view upcoming events, visit Potomac Officers Club’s Event Page.
