2026 National Security and Naval Power Bootcamp

Agenda

Sunday May 31st - arrive in DC

Orientation
Anytime	Check-In
6:00 pm	Welcome Reception

Monday June 1st

Day One: National Security Strategy & Policy
9:00-9:45	Welcome, Intros, Expectations (Prof. Squassoni) Location: Science and Engineering Hall
9:45-10:45	Overview of Navy RDT&E (S. Hooper)
11:00-11:45	Emerging Technologies (H. Berkhof)
11:45-1:00	Lunch
1:00-2:00	How the Navy Works (Dr. Fu)
2:00-3:00	Shipbuilding Programs (E. Labs)
3:00-4:00	Communicating S&T to Decision Makers (S. Fetter)
4:00-5	Table Top Exercise Brief In
6:30-8:30	Evening Activity

Tuesday June 2nd

Day Two: Navigating around National Security
8:30-9:30am	Naval and Maritime Ecosystem (J. Roberts)
9:30-11:00	Overview of Budget process (Dr. Zimmerman)
11:15-12:30	Speaker - TBD
12:30-1:30	Lunch
1:30-5:00	TBD
6:30-8:30	Dinner Speaker: Transformative Decade (Dr. Lewis)

Wednesday June 3rd

Day Three – Site Visits
7:30	NSWC Carderock Site Visit
1:00-2:00	National Security/Defense Strategy (R. Johnson)
2:00-3:15	Role of Space (Dr. Klein)
3:30-4:30	Energy Challenges for National Security (J. Bryan)
4:30-5:30	Table Top Exercise Work

Thursday June 4th

Day 4 Key Topics
8:30 -9:45	Global Naval Challenges (Dr. Tallis)
10:00-12:00	Speaker(s) Pending
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:00-2:00	Global Threat Assessment (Dr. Patterson)
2:00-3:15	Defense and Security in the Arctic (J. Boyd)
3:30-4:45	ICEX (Dr. Woerner)
5:30-8:30	Evening Activity

Friday June 5th

Day 5: Future Challenges
8:30-12:00	Table Top Exercise
12:00-12:30	Lunch
12:30-1:30	Assessment
2:00-4:00	Wrap Up

Speaker Bios

Howard A. Berkof, SES

Director, Production, Deployment, and Fleet Readiness

Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems

Mr. Berkof has served the United States Navy in multiple capacities for over 15 years. He was selected to the Senior Executive Service in June 2023. Mr. Berkof currently serves as the Director for Production, Deployment, and Fleet Readiness within the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS). Mr. Berkof is responsible for integrated production and fielding requirements and resources for sensors, weapons, combat systems, and associated elements. Prior to joining PEO IWS, Mr. Berkof served as the Deputy Program Manager for the ACAT I Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program Office (PMS 501) within the Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (USC), overseeing the funding, construction, testing, and delivery of the two different variants of the LCS class.

Previously, Mr. Berkof spent 13 years working the acquisition of unmanned maritime systems, and is a recognized leader in accelerated and innovative acquisition processes, winning three Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards. He served as Deputy Program Manager for the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406) from 2016- 2020. During this period, Mr. Berkof led the program office through significant growth, expanding to a nearly $1B annual portfolio of unmanned surface and undersea programs and doubling the size of the staff. From 2012-2016, he served as Deputy Program Manager and Principal Assistant Program Manager for the ACAT I Remote Minehunting System Program Office (PMS 403). Mr. Berkof also served a one-year assignment from 2011-2012 at the Pentagon, working as a Senior Requirements Analyst for the Expeditionary Warfare Division (N95) for the Chief of Naval Operations.

Prior to entering the Government, Mr. Berkof worked for Ingersoll-Rand Co. as a District Sales Manager in the Tool and Hoist Division. He also worked for a year and a half with Corning Asahi Video Products as a Production Supervisor and Manufacturing Engineer. Mr. Berkof holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Leadership Development from the Pennsylvania State University. He has been an active volunteer in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for over 25 years at the local, regional and national levels.

Judy Boyd

Senior Fellow

The Arctic Institute

Judy Boyd is a Senior Fellow at The Arctic Institute. Her research interests include national security, geopolitics, international law, and Arctic governance. She is currently Senior Information Law Counsel for the United States Coast Guard and a Colonel and Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve.

Judy has been working in the national security field for more than twenty years. Previous civilian positions include serving as a privacy officer and senior intelligence law attorney with the Department of Homeland Security and staff counsel for the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In her military capacity she has served as legal advisor for USSOCOM, USEUCOM, USARCYBERCOM, USINSCOM, and deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and NATO Operations Joint Forge (Bosnia) and Resolute Support (Afghanistan).

Judy has previously interned for the United Nations Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya and for the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, Austria.

Judy holds a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Law, a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense) from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (NPS-CHDS), a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Harvard University. Her NPS-CHDS thesis, “Introducing the Future Now: Using Memetics and Popular Culture to Identify the Post 9/11 Homeland Security Zeitgeist,” was awarded the Outstanding Thesis Award.

Joe Bryan

Principal, Muswell Orange

Joe Bryan is the principal at Muswell Orange, LLC, a boutique clean energy consulting. Before his return to the private sector, Joe was the Senior Climate Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Department’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Prior to his January 2021 DoD appointment, Joe managed a consulting practice focused on clean energy technology and its intersection with national security. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy where he was responsible for policies relating to the Department’s installation and operational energy programs. Earlier in his career, Joe led investigations for the Senate Armed Services Committee and served on the professional staffs of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He has consulted on energy policy in Namibia and South Africa and began his career working on electricity restructuring and state-level policies to encourage the growth of clean energy markets.

Steve Fetter, Ph.D.

Professor; Senior Fellow, CISSM

University of Maryland

School of Public Policy

Steve Fetter has been a professor in the School of Public Policy since 1988, serving as dean from 2005 to 2009. He also has served as associate provost and dean of the Graduate School and as associate provost for academic affairs.

Fetter is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on International Security and Arms Control and has served on Academy committees to assess U.S. nuclear weapon policy, effects of nuclear earth-penetrating warheads, monitoring nuclear weapons and nuclear materials, internationalization of the nuclear fuel cycle, conventional prompt global strike, geoengineering, ballistic missile defense, nuclear forensics, and nuclear terrorism. He is also a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists board of directors, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board, and the board of editors of Science and Global Security.

Fetter has served in government on several occasions, including five years in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Obama administration, leading the national security and international affairs division and the environment and energy division. He also served as special assistant to assistant secretary of defense Ash Carter in the Clinton administration and in the State Department as an American Institute of Physics fellow and as a Council on Foreign Relations international affairs fellow. He has been a consultant to several US government agencies and was a member of the director of National Intelligence's Intelligence Science Board and the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee.

In the past, Fetter has served as president of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, vice chairman of the Federation of American Scientists, acting director of the Center for Advanced Study of Language, and associate director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute. He has been a visiting fellow at ETH Zurich's Center for Security Studies, the Royal United Services Institute, King College London’s Center for Science and Security Studies, Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, Harvard’s Center for Science and International Affairs, MIT’s Plasma Fusion Center and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of the APS Leo Szilard Lectureship Award and the Joseph A. Burton Forum Award, the Federation of American Scientists' Hans Bethe Science in the Public Service award, and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. He has given over 200 invited lectures and has more than 120 publications, including articles in Foreign Affairs, International Security, Science, Nature, Scientific American, Science and Global Security, Nuclear Technology, Fusion Technology, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Washington Quarterly, and Arms Control Today.

Fetter received a PhD in energy and resources from UC Berkeley in 1985 and a SB in physics from MIT in 1981. Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, he was the first member of his family to receive a high school diploma. He enjoys cooking, hiking, bicycling, and kayaking. He is married to Marie Fetter, a certified nurse-midwife; Emily is an attorney in the US Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement; son Max is an organic farmer in Maryland.

Thomas C. Fu, Ph.D., SES

Executive Director, Office of Naval Research

Dr. Thomas C. Fu is the Executive Director of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), where he serves as the ONR Chief Scientist and senior civilian manager. In this capacity, he oversees the coordination, execution, and promotion of science and technology initiatives for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Dr. Fu provides executive technical and scientific leadership for ONR’s investments in advanced science, technology, and innovative operational concepts, ensuring a technological edge for our warfighters and allies.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Fu was Head of the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department at ONR, directing efforts to develop advanced technologies that enhance warfighting capabilities and energy efficiency for Navy and Marine Corps platforms. His responsibilities included investment in fundamental and applied research across a range of areas, including power systems, advanced materials and manufacturing, environmental quality, undersea weaponry, and platform survivability, sustainment, performance, and autonomy. He also managed the National Naval Responsibilities for Naval Engineering and Undersea Weapons.

Dr. Fu entered the Senior Executive Service in September 2015 as the Director of the Advanced Naval Platforms Division at ONR. He transitioned to the acting head of the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department in January 2019 and was appointed to the permanent position in April 2020. His federal service began in 1988 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, where he worked as a part-time mechanical engineer while pursuing graduate studies. After earning his doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1993, Dr. Fu became a full-time research engineer, advancing to senior research engineer in 2001 and later leading the Resistance & Propulsion Division from 2008. He served as Deputy Head of the Hydromechanics Department, which became the Naval Architecture & Engineering Department in 2012 and held roles as Director of Science & Technology and Naval Engineering Education Center program manager. In October 2014, Dr. Fu joined ONR as a program officer in the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department.

Dr. Fu has authored over 140 technical papers. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from Purdue University (1984), a Master of Science in Physical Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego (1988), and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University (1993). He was a Visiting Scholar at George Washington University in 2013 and an adjunct faculty member there in 2014 and has also taught at the University of Maryland and Oregon State University.

In 2023, Dr. Fu was honored with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) David W. Taylor Medal and was named an Asian-American Engineer of the Year by the Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA in 2013. He is a Fellow of both SNAME and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). His accolades include the Meritorious Unit Commendation (2013) and the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award (1998). Additionally, Dr. Fu serves as the Navy’s representative on the NATO-Applied Vehicle Technology Panel and is the Editor-in-Chief of the SNAME Journal of Ship Research.

Seth Hooper

President, Lowcountry Maritime Group

Seth is a co-founder and President of Lowcountry Maritime Group.

Prior to founding LMG, Seth was Managing Consultant at Sage, a modeling and consulting company where he focused his energy on improving the Defense Industrial Base primarily in the undersea domain as well as improving the Navy’s software development processes.

Before joining Sage, Seth was recruited for his proven program management, operations, and manufacturing expertise to be the Director of Operations for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company in Las Vegas. He grew a team of 5 to 170 individuals while ensuring the completion of The Boring Company’s first tunneling project. His collaborative work with the state, city, visitor’s board, and convention center to guarantee final permitting approval for Certificate of Operation and Certificate of Occupancy. He also managing the day-to-day operations troubleshooting construction challenges and information technology development efforts.

Prior to The Boring Company, Seth worked at General Motors as Program Manager Infotainment Systems. In this role, he managed the execution of 38 different global infotainment programs to support vehicle build and launch. After the launch of the systems, Seth was assigned to the Defense division of General Motors to support business development.

Before his time in private industry, Seth was a Naval Officer. After graduating from The Citadel in Charleston South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science on Electrical Engineering, Seth once again attended the nuclear training pipeline and follow on training at the Submarine Officer Basic Course. After completion of initial officer training, he reported onboard USS FLORIDA (SSGN-728) (BLUE) from February 2007 until June 2010. After his initial sea tour Seth attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned his Master in Business Administration in Defense Financial Management and complete his Joint Professional Military Education. Upon completion of studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, he completed the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in Groton, Connecticut. Once again he reported onboard USS FLORIDA (SSGN-728) (BLUE) to relieve as the Combat Systems Officer from September 2012 until June 2015. Seth’s final tour was as Budget Analysts for Undersea Portfolio at the Navy Office of Financial Management and Budgets (FMB-21) until he retired in February of 2017.

Before being selected for the Seaman to Admiral Program, Seth had enlisted in the Navy as a submarine nuclear machinist mate and reached the rank of Chief. Upon graduation from enlisted bootcamp Seth reported to Nuclear Power Training Command where he completed the Machinist Mate Nuclear Power Pipeline. Upon completion of initial training Seth reported onboard USS BREMERTON (SSN-698) where he was a member of Machinery Division. Following his initial sea duty Seth reported to Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston, South Carolina as a Staff Instructor.

Richard Johnson

Richard C. Johnson served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy (N-CWMD). In this role he supported the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy by developing strategies, informing policies, and conducting oversight of nuclear deterrence policy and arms control, as well as developing and overseeing the implementation of strategies and policies of all Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction policy issues, to include preventing the proliferation of WMD-related materials; the DoD Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program; and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense.

Prior to his appointment at the Department of Defense, Richard served as the senior director for fuel cycle and verification at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Richard previously served as the assistant coordinator and deputy lead coordinator (acting) for Iran Nuclear Implementation at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to working at the Department of State, Johnson was director for nonproliferation at the National Security Council in the Obama Administration.

Richard held numerous positions at the Department of State, including as special assistant to Secretary Hillary Clinton's special advisor for nonproliferation and arms control, as a policy advisor on nonproliferation issues regarding North Korea, and as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Richard has been involved deeply in Iran and North Korea nuclear issues, including as a member of the U.S. delegations to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission and the Six-Party Talks on North Korea’s nuclear program. While on assignment to the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration, Johnson was a U.S. nuclear disablement monitor at the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea.

Richard also previously served as senior legislative aide and field representative for California Assembly member Carol Liu. He graduated as valedictorian from Claremont McKenna College and later earned his master’s degree at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. Richard is proficient in Mandarin Chinese, is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and was a Presidential Management Fellow, as well as a one-time Jeopardy champion. Richard is a Southern California native and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

John “Patsy” Klein, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor - Center for Security Studies (CSS)

George Washington University

Dr. John J. Klein, callsign “Patsy,” is a Senior Fellow and Strategist at Falcon Research, Inc., and Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute and Georgetown University’s Strategic Studies Program. He routinely writes on space strategy, deterrence, and the Law of Armed Conflict. He is the author of the books Understanding Space Strategy: The Art of War in Space (2019) and Space Warfare: Strategy, Principles and Policy (2006).

Patsy is also a retired Commander, United States Navy, receiving his commission through the NROTC program at Georgia Tech. He served for 22 years as a Naval Flight Officer, primarily flying in the S-3B Viking carrier-based aircraft. Patsy supported combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. His tours included Executive Officer of Sea Control Squadron Twenty Four and as the final Commanding Officer of Sea Control Weapons School, being part of the Viking community’s sundown plan.

Patsy holds a master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, a master’s in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Reading, England. Patsy is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He has over 2,700 flight hours in 27 different type aircraft and over 600 carrier arrested landings.

Lance Lewis, PhD, Col USMC (ret)

Researcher

Authentic Media

Lance was commissioned a second lieutenant of Marines in 1996, designated a naval aviator in 1999, and selected to fly the FA-18. Lance has extensive operational and tactical experience in the FA-18, including two CVN and two land-based deployments, all in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. He also served in 1st Battalion 2nd Marines as a Forward Air Controller in combat operations in Iraq. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the 850 Marines and Sailors of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni. During his command he led the squadron’s humanitarian relief efforts on Operation DAMAYAN in the Philippines. As a Colonel, he commanded Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni from 2019-2022, where he increased operational effectiveness, naval integration, and allied cooperation and led the 13,500 people aboard the installation through the COVID-19 global pandemic. He retired from active duty in 2024 after 28 years of service with over 3900 mishap-free flight hours and numerous individual and combat awards. He now works for Anduril Industries.

Lance graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 with a major in American History. He was awarded a Master of Arts in National Security Studies (with distinction) from the Naval War College and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. In 2024 he earned his PhD in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.

In 2024 he joined Authentic Media, a defense and military history podcast, as a researcher and presenter, with notable series on the history of Close Air Support, the history of Bomber Command in the European Theater in WWII and contributed to the ongoing ‘On Future War’ series. He recently presented a paper at the 2025 Society for Military History conference on the impact of the Small Wars Campaigns of 1915-1934 on USMC aviation tactics for amphibious operations.

Michael Patterson, Ph.D.

Ship & Shore Based Systems Branch Supervisor

John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Dr. Michael Patterson is a technical leader and strategic innovator at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he supervises over 300 scientists and engineers across six technical groups in the Ship & Shore Based Systems Branch. In this role, he drives the development of advanced technologies and engineering approaches that support national strategic systems for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. His leadership has been central to advancing hypersonic mission planning tools, rapid trajectory optimization methods, and resilient system-level analyses aligned with evolving national security priorities.

Prior to joining APL, Dr. Patterson earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a B.S. from Florida International University. During his graduate research, he developed GPOPS-II, a widely used software tool for solving optimal control problems, which has since accumulated over 4,000 citations across academia and industry. He is also a graduate of the Senior Manager Course in National Security Leadership at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

Jenny Roberts

CEO Lowcountry Maritime Group

Jenny Roberts serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Lowcountry Maritime Group. There she is responsible for the company’s advanced technology portfolio. With experience in the defense industry as well as defense civil service, she is able to develop the partnerships and programs to transition technology for Navy use.

As SAIC’s Vice President for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and Fleet Account, she provided Information Technology, subject matter expertise plus integration support to NAVSEA Program Executive Offices, the public shipyards, Navy Personnel Command, Naval Education and Training Command, Navy’s data environment, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and NAVSEA Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations.

As the Division Director for Strategy, Integration and Investment in Northrop Grumman’s Maritime/Land Systems and Sensors Division, she identified and executed cross-company synergies to provide greatest mission impact for effective, sustained growth.

In other industry roles, she provided direct technical expertise to Program Executive Offices supporting Acquisition Management; Joint Capability Integration and Development System; and Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution processes. She also provided technology transition support to the Office of Naval Research and Joint Program Executive Offices to integrate advanced technologies into acquisition programs.

In civil service, Jenny served as the Branch Head for Undersea Influence driving the expansion of undersea warfare with a focus on development of advanced capabilities. Having built a team environment where all members understand expectations and are accountable for their work. Using her acquisition, financial and requirements expertise to manage $6B portfolio while influencing an additional $25B in resources supporting Navy, Defense and national security requirements. Previously, Jenny served as the Deputy Branch Head for Undersea Influence where she was responsible for the Navy’s future undersea warfare platforms, unmanned systems, surveillance systems, payloads, weapons, sensor systems, hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) programs applying my acquisition, financial, and requirements expertise across the life-cycle spectrum.

Jenny was an acquisition professional at NAVSEA Undersea Warfare where she managed the Submarine Force’s Science and Technology portfolio. She developed opportunities for combined effects through guiding and integrating efforts across science and technology, research and development, acquisition, certification and lifecycle support portfolios, Dual hatted as the Assistant Program Manager for Submarine Survivability, she reported directly to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on the development and production of capabilities critical to the advancement of the Division’s mission and strategic objectives.

Jenny holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a Master of Science Degree in Technology Management from University of Maryland – Global Campus. A member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and a Project Management Professional certified through Project Management Institute, her accomplishments have been recognized with the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the third highest Navy civilian award available, as well as numerous awards and commendations.

Sharon Squassoni

Research Professor of the Practice of International Affairs

Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Sharon Squassoni's research, writing and policy-making has focused on reducing risks from nuclear energy and weapons for four decades. She has held senior positions at the State Department, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Congressional Research Service, as well as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Center for Strategic & International Studies, where she led the Proliferation Prevention Program. She is a distinguished graduate of the National War College (1998). Squassoni sits on the boards of the PIR Center, the Wisconsin Project on Arms Control, the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation and the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center. She co-founded the Climate Security Initiative in 2023. For a full biography, see https://sites.google.com/view/profsharonsquassoni

Joshua Tallis, Ph.D.

Principal Research Scientist

Center for Naval Analysis

Joshua Tallis is Principal Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses with expertise in maritime security as well as Arctic, Euro-Atlantic and NATO naval strategy.

In his first field assignment for CNA, Tallis embarked the Harry S. Truman strike group as the only civilian analyst during the U.S. Navy’s first Arctic carrier deployment since the Cold War. His post-deployment analysis remains a central reference product for High North naval operations. Later, he embedded with Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa in support of the 6th Fleet commander and other U.S. flag officers in leadership positions. In that role, he crafted the fleet’s fighting instructions, among other analyses informing strategy, operations and processes.

Tallis leads the development of policy-relevant products, including congressionally mandated studies on Arctic naval infrastructure, Chinese Arctic investments, and illegal fishing. He has received CNA’s Deployer Award and was part of a team that received the CNA CEO Teamwork Award.

Tallis holds a doctorate in international relations from the University of St. Andrews and a Bachelor of Arts in Middle East studies from George Washington University.

Kyle Woerner, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist, STR

Dr. Kyle Woerner became the Chief Scientist at STR in September 2024, making the world a safer place by developing technology and applying it to solve emerging national security challenges.

He previously was a Program Manager at DARPA in the Tactical Technology Office. His interests include unmanned systems, offensive and defensive swarms, undersea influence, multi-domain teaming, and human-machine interactions.

Prior to joining DARPA, Woerner served as a project manager at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard with a focus on employment of expeditionary robotic systems payloads and submarine modernization. He previously served on the personal staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as a special assistant focusing on unmanned systems, cyber warfare, and Navy acquisitions. He additionally served in consecutive Flag Aide positions to the Deputy Commander and the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. At sea, Dr. Woerner completed numerous fast-attack submarine deployments throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Woerner holds a Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in systems engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology earning a Master of Science in mechanical engineering, the degree of Naval Engineer, and a Doctor of Philosophy in autonomy and marine robotics (mechanical and oceanographic engineering) in the department of Mechanical Engineering and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

Alessandra Zimmermann, Ph.D.

Senior Manager, R&D Policy for the R&D Budget and Policy Program

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Alessandra Zimmermann is a Writer/Analyst for the R&D Budget and Policy Program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where she collects information on federal science spending, both current and past.

Previously, she was the Executive Director at Proposal Analytics, performing research into making the research funding space more useful to early career researchers. She has also been a program Manager for the Canadian Science Policy Center, an intern at AAAS’s EPI Center, and a researcher for the National Science Policy Network.

Prior to switching to science policy work, she earned her PhD in biochemistry from the University of Maryland, and a BS in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University.

Reading Materials

Read Ahead Articles:

Strategies

National Security Strategy

National Defense Strategy , Nuclear Posture Review & Missile Defense Strategy

National Defense Industrial Strategy

U.S. Arctic Strategy

Canada's Arctic foreign Policy

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Books and Essays of Interest

Thinking in Systems
- Donella H. Meadows, Diana Wright (Editor)
Supercommunicators
- Charles Duhigg
A Message to Garcia
- Elbert Hubbard
Good to Great
- Jim Collins
Talking to Strangers
- Malcolm Gladwell
How Will You Measure Your Life
- Clayton Christensen
The Influence of Sea Power on History
- Alfred Thayer Mahan
The Rule of the Waves:
- How Control of the World's Oceans Shapes the Fate of the Superpowers
- Bruce D. Jones
Freedom's Forge:
- How American Businesses Produced Victory in World War II
- Arthur Herman
The Cod Wars:
- A Re-Analysis
- Sverrir Steinsson
CRS reports
- 32665 Navy force structure and shipbuilding plans. This is the main one I mentioned. See the sections on announced ship delivery days and shipbuilding capacity.
- 33153 China naval modernization
- 32418 Virginia class SSN and AUKUS Pillar 1. This includes a discussion (with a data table) showing the backlog in SSN maintenance.

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