All 2017 Senior Executive Service (SES) announcements. The Senior Executive Service (SES) leads America’s workforce. As the keystone of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the SES was established to “…ensure that the executive management of the Government of the United States is responsive to the needs, policies, and goals of the Nation and otherwise is of the highest quality.” These leaders possess well-honed executive skills and share a broad perspective on government and a public service commitment that is grounded in the Constitution.
Release No: NR-423-17
Dec. 14, 2017
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointment and assignment:
Alan Patterson has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs. Patterson recently retired from the Central Intelligence Agency, having last served as the Directorate of Operations chief for Africa. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park.
Release No: NR-384-17
Nov. 8, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Veronica Blount Daigle has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness. Daigle most recently served as the senior advisor for national security in the Office of Management and Budget. She previously served as the director of the Force and Infrastructure Analysis Division in the office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department of Defense. She is a graduate of Fordham University and George Mason University.
Ryan A. Fisher has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for civil works. Fisher most recently served as the chief of the Planning & Environmental Branch in the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Justin T. Johnson has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the special assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. Johnson was most recently special assistant to the under secretary of defense for comptroller in the Department of Defense, and served on Department of Defense Landing Team with the President-Elect Donald Trump Transition Team. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and Covenant College.
Charlie E. Summers has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. Summers serves in the Navy Reserve, and was most recently executive director for the Veterans Count. He previously served as director of public affairs for the Navy Reserve, a Maine state senator, and Maine’s 48th secretary of state. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Black Hawk College.
Dr. Steven H. Walker has been selected to be the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). For the last five years, Walker has served as the deputy director of DARPA and has served as the acting director since January 2017. Over his 30-year career, Walker has led several important technology development efforts in the areas of advanced propulsion, aero-acoustics, space systems and hypersonics. He received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Management in 2015 and is an AIAA Fellow. Walker has been awarded the Presidential Rank Award, the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service medal, and the Department of Defense Exceptional, Meritorious, and Distinguished Civilian Service medals. Walker is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.
Jeffrey S. White has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology. White was most recently vice president of business development; vice president of federal energy, infrastructure, and healthcare; and vice president of Army programs for Siemens Government Technologies. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Naval War College, and Shippensburg State College.
Release No: NR-353-17
Oct. 17, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Eric Chewning has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy. Chewning was most recently a partner with McKinsey & Co. focusing on the aerospace and defense industry. He is an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
William Jordan Gillis has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for energy, installations, and environment. Gillis was most recently a director at ScottMadden Inc. and served as an Army officer prior to that. Gillis is a graduate of Duke University and holds an MBA from Emory University.
Thomas F. Mooney has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as chief of staff to the deputy chief management officer. Mooney was most recently the deputy White House liaison in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mooney received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and his master’s degree in engineering management from George Washington University.
Michael “Mick” Patrick Mulroy has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East. Mulroy recently retired as a paramilitary operations officer in the CIA after a career of decorated service in conflict areas across the globe. He is a former Marine with a bachelor’s degree from Augusta University and a law degree from Samford University.
Ryan D. Newman has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service as the deputy general counsel for legal counsel. Newman most recently served as principal deputy assistant attorney general and acting assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Policy for the Department of Justice. Newman is a former Army officer and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the University of Texas School of Law.
Daniel P. Walsh has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the director of the White House Military Office. Walsh most recently served as deputy director of the White House Military Office. Walsh holds a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, two master of science degrees from the National Graduate School and Embry Riddle University, and a fellowship in national security from Harvard University.
Release No: NR-330-17
Sept. 18, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
William S. Castle has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy general counsel. Castle was most recently chief counsel in Sen. Orrin Hatch’s Senate President Pro Tempore office. Earlier, he was minority general counsel to the Senate Armed Services Committee and, prior to that, senior national security counsel to Sen. Hatch. Castle is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Dr. Colin F. Jackson has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. Jackson was most recently director of the Advanced Strategist Program for the U.S. Naval War College. Jackson is a graduate of Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
EmilyGrace Mate has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the special assistant and deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of the Navy. Mate was most recently president of Impel LLC. Mate serves in the National Guard Reserve, and is a graduate of the University of Akron, Georgetown University, Boston University, and the National Intelligence University.
Release No: NR-302-17
Aug. 22, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Addison D. Davis IV has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment. Davis was previously chief executive officer for the U.S. Army Reserve and served as deputy assistant secretary of the Army for environment, safety, and occupational health. Davis is a former Army Ranger, and is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and Harvard University.
Charles Fred Drummond has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for force education and training. Drummond was most recently branch head of Navy Education Strategy and Policy (OPNAV N127.) Drummond served as a naval flight officer, and is a graduate of Virginia Tech and Auburn University at Montgomery.
Richard Landolt has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the defense advisor to the NATO ambassador. Landolt was most recently executive director of public safety for the city of Mobile, Alabama. Landolt is a retired rear admiral, and a graduate of the University of Florida, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
Matthew Shipley has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for force readiness. Shipley was most recently military legislative assistant to Sen. Ted Cruz. Previously, Shipley served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy, and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Arizona State University.
John Stopher has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the director of the Principal Department of Defense Space Advisor Staff. Stopher was previously budget director for the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Stopher is a graduate of the University at Buffalo.
Release No: NR-280-17
July 31, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Raymond Horoho has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Horoho most recently served as senior human capital executive at the Center for Human Capitol Innovation. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and the Naval War College.
Joseph L’Etoile has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the senior advisor to the assistant secretary of defense for Readiness. L’Etoile most recently served as chief operating officer and partner of Orbis Operations. He is a graduate of The Citadel, and Marine Corps University.
Michael Powers has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller. Powers most recently served as special assistant to the secretary for Finance and Budget for the Department of Transportation. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, Wayne State University, the Federal Executive Institute, and the Professional Military Comptroller School.
Release No: NR-263-17
July 12, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Stuart Bryce Dustman has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the chief of staff to the Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Dustman was most recently special assistant to Commissioner Joe Mohorovic of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He served as then Rep. Wilson’s (NM-1) chief of staff from 2001-2009. Dustman’s congressional service also includes: communications director for Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL); communications director/legislative assistant for Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT); and deputy news secretary for Sen. Jack Danforth (R-MO). Prior to his federal service, he owned and managed a 2,700-acre grain and livestock farm in Missouri. Dustman is a graduate of Truman State University and Trenton Junior College.
Dr. Joseph H. Felter III has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia. Felter was most recently director of the Hacking for Defense Project at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, co-director of the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project, and research fellow at the Hoover Institution. Felter is a former Army Special Forces officer and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Harvard Kennedy School, and Stanford University.
Andrew F. Knaggs has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combating terrorism. Knaggs was most recently the founder and managing partner of Knaggs Law PLLC. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the William & Mary School of Law.
Megan A. Milam has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy comptroller for budget and appropriations affairs. Milam was most recently a professional staff member on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. She is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Edinburgh.
Jamie Jones Miller has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for House affairs. Miller was most recently chief of staff for Rep. Robert J. Wittman, senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. She is a graduate of James Madison University.
John E. Odegaard has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the chief of staff to the Secretary of the Navy. Odegaard was most recently chief executive officer of the Naval War College Foundation. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Southern California, George Washington University, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Kathryn L. Wheelbarger has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. Wheelbarger most recently served as vice president and chief compliance officer at CSRA. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Harvard Law School.
Release No: NR-241-17
June 27, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Robert G. Catalanotti has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the senior advisor to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. Catalanotti was most recently managing director of Middle East initiatives for SOS International LLC. Catalanotti is a retired Army major general with over 34 years of service, and is a graduate of Assumption College, Suffolk University, and the U.S. Army War College.
Anthony G. DeMartino has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense. DeMartino was most recently managing director for SBD Advisors, and a former Army infantry officer. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, George Mason University, and the School of Advanced Military Studies.
Earl G. Matthews has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the principal deputy general counsel for the Army. Matthews was most recently special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He is a graduate of Villanova University, Harvard Law School, the National Intelligence University, the Georgetown University Law Center, and the U.S. Army War College.
Laura P. McAleer has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Senate affairs. McAleer was most recently senior defense advisor to Sen. John Boozman. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the U.S. Naval War College.
Release No: NR-224-17
June 13, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service and presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed service appointments and assignments:
Thomas A. Alexander has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for counter narcotics and global threats. Alexander was most recently chief counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs. He is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College and the Ave Maria School of Law.
Anita K. Blair has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for civilian personnel policy. Blair was most recently the deputy assistant secretary for human resources, and chief human capital officer, for the Department of the Treasury. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Timothy R. Jost has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the comptroller’s director for resource issues. Jost was most recently with Red Curve Solutions, a consulting company managing finance and compliance. He is a graduate of Arizona State University.
Derek J. Maurer has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as deputy assistant secretary of Defense for countering weapons of mass destruction. Maurer was most recently the confirmations lead on the Department of Defense Beachhead Team. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and Georgetown University Law Center.
Christopher M. Shank has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the senior advisor to the secretary and under secretary of the Air Force. Shank was most recently policy and coalitions director for the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Colorado.
Amber Smith has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for outreach. Smith was most recently an advisor for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the presidential transition team. She is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Eastern Kentucky University.
Molly L. Walsh has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the senior advisor to the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Walsh was most recently a senior policy and research analyst at the Logistics Management Institute, where she provided strategic guidance and policy support to government clients including the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Fordham University.
Release No: NR-171-17
May 10, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Elbridge Andrew Colby has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy & force development. Colby was most recently a Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, where he consulted extensively with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Strategic Command, and the U.S. Department of State on matters relating to defense, nuclear and nuclear deterrence, strategy escalation, and arms control. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School.
Pete Giambastiani has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service and for assignment as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs. Mr. Giambastiani was most recently chief of staff to Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL), a member of the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees. He previously served as a special assistant to the deputy undersecretary of the Navy and the secretary of the Navy in the George W. Bush administration, a senior staff member to former House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL), and a U.S. Navy surface warfare and intelligence officer. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the George Mason University School of Business.
Thomas Goffus has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe & NATO. Goffus was most recently a professional staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he served as the lead advisor to the chairman of the Armed Services Committee on matters relating to national military strategy, counterterrorism, international defense cooperation, and foreign policy issues in U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, and a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, University of Washington, and Unites States Naval War College.
Release No: NR-143-17
April 26, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:
Dr. Robert Soofer has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. Soofer was most recently a professional staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he served as staff lead for the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, with responsibility for nuclear, arms control, and missile defense matters. He has 30 years of combined service with the U.S. Senate and the Department of Defense.
Amy K. Mitchell has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service, and for assignment as the special assistant to the secretary of defense for protocol. Mitchell has 20 years of experience in Washington, District of Columbia, having implemented major national and international events on behalf of the U.S. government, non-profits, and several media companies. Most recently, she was the vice president of communications for National Review. She has led numerous national campaigns to support America’s military and veterans.
Release No: NR-122-17
April 5, 2017
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has announced the following Department of Defense personnel assignment: