Rear Admiral Paul J. Ryan, US Navy (Ret)

RADM Ryan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1973. He obtained his Masters Degree in National Security Affairs, a US Naval War College degree, and a Russian language diploma from Defense Language Institute. He attended the Harvard University Executive Program for Senior Officials in National Security and MIT Seminar XXI.

Pursuing a career in submarines. RADM Ryan’s first ship was USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN 635) (GOLD), where he served three years in various engineering billets, then served as the Engineer on USS Tullibee (SSN 597), Navigator and Operations Officer on the USS Groton (SSN 694), and as Executive Officer on the USS Boston (SSN 703). He commanded the USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) from 1989 to 1992, completing three major deployments, including participation in Operation Desert Storm. During his command tour the USS Philadelphia was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Battle Efficiency “E”, the CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award, and two Silver Anchor Awards. He later commanded the submarine repair ship USS L. Y. Spear (AS 36).

Ashore, RADM Ryan served several tours in Washington, DC: Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering, and Systems), Branch Chief in the Division of Naval Warfare (OP-701) and the Navy Reorganization Transition Team (N83), Central and East European Branch Chief and European Division Chief on the Joint Staff (J-5), Director Operational Support Division (N23), Deputy Director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review Office (N8C), Strategic Submarine and Maintenance Branch Chief, Submarine Warfare Division (N871), Senior Navy Fellow on the Secretary of Defense Strategic Studies Group, and Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Long-range Planning (N09V).

In August 2000, RADM Ryan assumed his first flag assignment as Director, Warfare Programs and Readiness (N8) on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In January 2002 he assumed command of Mine Warfare Command in Corpus Christi, Texas.

RADM Ryan’s awards include: the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four Gold Stars), Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Star), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (one Gold Star), and Navy Achievement Medal.

Hon. Richard (Dick) L. Rumpf

Mr. Rumpf served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Engineering and Systems from April to December 1987 and from May 1989 to March 1990. In this capacity he was responsible for planning and directing research, development, engineering, testing and evaluation of future weapons, sensors, ships, aircraft, unmanned vehicles and space systems for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, as well as managing the Navy’s R & D budget of over nine billion dollars.

Mr. Rumpf joined the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Engineering, and Systems) in March 1978 as the Staff Engineer for Missile Systems. In November 1981 he became the Acting Director for Air Programs, and served as Director for Air Programs from March 1982 to June 1985. Active across a broad spectrum of issues in the Navy secretariat, Mr. Rumpf chaired the first Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Master Plan Blue Ribbon Review Panel and was largely responsible for the establishment of the Joint UAV Program Office and Master Plan.

Independently, Mr. Rumpf has provided technical, programmatic, and management services to a number of clients and has supported the partnering of the Department of Energy’s national facilities with industry and other government entities. In 1986, Mr. Rumpf received the President’s Meritorious Executive Award. In 1987, he received the Distinguished Executive Award in the Senior Executive Service from President Reagan, and received the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. In 1989, he was honored as the Member of the Year by the Association of Unmanned Vehicles Society. In 1990, he was presented the Navy’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award. In October of 1991, Mr. Rumpf was named to the rank of Commandeur in the Ordre National du Mérite by the French Ambassador to the U.S.

Mr. Rumpf is a member and was formerly a Trustee of the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI), Member of the Board of the Precision Strike Association (PSA), and Member of the NAVAIR Greybeards. Mr. Rumpf has chaired Blue Ribbon Panels for NAVAIR and the DON. Mr. Rumpf has also participated as a principal on major studies such as the “Next Generation Carrier Study” (CNA) and the “Surface Ship Self Defense Roadmap” (APL/JHU); served on the Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) in the Summers of 1990, 1994, and 1997 and was appointed to the NRAC’s Standing Panel of Associates in February 1999 during which he served on significant studies, e.g. “Ship to Warfighter Logistics for Small Unit Operations”, “Unmanned Vehicles for Mine Countermeasures”, “Quality of Life”, “Life Cycle Technology Insertion”, “Aging Aircraft”, “Technology Acquisition Reform”. “Electromagnetic Gun”, “Lighter-Than-Air” and “Roles of Unmanned Vehicles”; and served on two panels of the Defense Science Board in 1997 and 1998.

Rear Admiral Wendi Carpenter, US Navy (Ret)

Rear Admiral Wendi Carpenter (USN retired) has an extensive level of expertise in personnel and fleet training requirements; command, control and communications; and in systems and technology development.   With wide ranging strategic and executive expertise, she completed a distinguished 34 year Navy career in 2011 and is authorized to wear the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal, among numerous other personal and unit military and civilian awards.  She holds a Masters of Arts in International Relations, a BS in Psychology, and is a distinguished graduate of the US Naval War College.  Additionally, she has completed numerous executive courses in joint operations, strategic planning, innovation and business.

Admiral Carpenter was among the pioneers of women in Naval aviation and was the first woman aviator in the U.S. Navy to achieve the rank of admiral.   Her aviation assignments include VT-31 as an advanced maritime pipeline instructor pilot and with VQ-3 in Barbers Point, HI, as a TACAMO mission commander and aircraft commander for the nation’s strategic nuclear triad.  Admiral Carpenter was also a designated instructor pilot in the EC 130 G/Q aircraft, developing training requirements and curriculum for new aviators and aircrew, both for the operation of the aircraft and the mission systems.

Admiral Carpenter held five commands during her Navy career and was a senior executive advisor or deputy in key Navy and joint organizations of up to 200,000 personnel and 150 ships, dealing with aviation and ship operations, manpower, installation management, logistics, and fleet and joint training.

As Vice Director of US JFCOM Standing Joint Force Headquarters (2005-2006), she had the lead in creating the standardized training and competency requirements for Joint Headquarters “Plug and Play” units across all combatant commands and in creating the strategic plan for cyber systems and security refresh across JFCOM.  As Deputy for U.S. Second Fleet, from 2006-2008, Admiral Carpenter was instrumental in the development of all aspects of the transformational Maritime Operations Center and Maritime Headquarters concept, establishing processes and doctrine, personnel and unit training requirements, and developing communications and key systems for intelligence fusion and decision making.  She also regularly represented Second Fleet at important forums, such as the U.S. Fleet Forces Executive Training Board and she served as a mentor during Fleet training exercise events for areas of allied, JTF, Joint Force Air Component and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander processes, coordination, and doctrine.   She also oversaw the training and certification of U.S. Second Fleet and its allied component, as the Navy’s first “ready” Joint Task Force Headquarters.

From June 2008 until August 2011, she served as Commander of the Navy Warfare Development Command and was the lead innovator for concepts and systems and technology development. In this capacity, Rear Admiral Carpenter worked with a large RDT&E budget, as well as influencing all of the Navy’s expenditures in that area.  She was highly involved in the development of wide spectrum of unmanned systems from seabed to space, working closely with DARPA, ONR, NASA and other key agencies.  Admiral Carpenter was also in charge of the Navy’s Lessons Learned program and doctrine and tactics development, as well as conducting wargaming and analysis.  While Commander, NWDC she was a frequent consultant and advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Board, the Navy Science Board, and the Navy War College Strategic Studies Group. She was a frequent presenter at senior leader events at the Army War College and the Navy War College, and interagency forums.

Admiral Carpenter is also well versed in federal maritime policy, training initiatives and management of higher education objectives, having served as a college president at an institution tasked with training and educating US mariners.  She worked closely with the USCG, the Maritime Administration and numerous Congressional staff and committees on maritime strategies, safety, training, and regulatory efforts.  She also served as a special strategic advisor to the World Maritime Organization.

Admiral Carpenter now operates as an independent consultant and advisor on a number of subjects including training and education, strategy, process improvement, organizational transformation, technology development, and leadership.  From 2020-2022, she served on the board of directors and as Compensation Committee Chair of SkyWater Technology (SKYT- NASDAQ), a publicly traded company specializing in semiconductor innovation and manufacture.  Since 2022 she has been an independent director for Comtech (CMTL – NASDAQ) a leading global provider of next generation 9/11 services and  critical wireless communications technologies.   Admiral Carpenter serves as Chair of the Strategic Committee and as a member of the Compensation and Nomination and Governance Committees

James F. McDonough, Jr., Esq.

James F. McDonough received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary in 1977 and his law degree from Seton Hall Law Center in 1980. Upon graduation, he worked for three years for the public accounting firm then known as Touche Ross where he obtained his license as a Certified Public Accountant in 1983. In 1984, Mr. McDonough received his Masters in Business Administration, concentrating in finance, from Rutgers Graduate School of Management.

Mr. McDonough was subsequently employed as a tax attorney by Union Camp Corporation where he engaged in planning for corporate income deferred compensation, qualified plan and tax-free exchanges. In 1986, Mr. McDonough was employed as Tax Manager for Monroe Systems For Business, Inc. where he was engaged in tax administration for a multi-state enterprise. In 1988, Mr. McDonough received his Masters in Law In Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Mr. McDonough specializes in Admiralty law, national and international business law for closely-held business matters and ownership succession, as well as income tax planning. He is a member of the American Bar Association Tax Section and it’s committees on closely held businesses, partnerships, and is a member of the Real Property Trust and Probate Section. He is also a member of the tax section of the New Jersey Bar Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Dennis Knopick MCPO USN (Ret)

Mr. Knopick is a retired U.S. Navy Master Diver. He holds BS in Organizational Management and MS in Business Adm., which he received at the University Of LaVerne and City University (Seattle) respectively. He was employed 30 years with the U.S. Department Of Defense and US Navy Seabees. He is an expert in Construction and Organizational Management, Underwater Construction Safety, Air/HEO2 Diving, Offshore Petroleum Discharge Systems, Marine Salvage, Arctic Diving, ROV Operations, ABS Inspection / Ship Husbandry, Underwater Welding, Quality Assurance Inspection, Demolition / Explosive cutting and EMS.

Tom Dettweiler

Mr. Dettweiler holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and MS Degrees in Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, which he received at Purdue University, Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the University of Miami respectively. He is a specialist in the development and management of shipboard deep ocean systems and ocean science programs. He is experienced with Deep Diving Submersibles, Submarines, ROVs and Towed Vehicles, Navigation / Positioning and Shipboard Sonar Systems. Mr. Dettweiler served as the Electronics Engineer and Science Officer for the Cousteau Society’s R/V Calypso and is credited with locating the Japanese Submarine I-52 and the Israeli Submarine Dakar in 17,000 and 10,000 feet respectively. He was the Operations Manager for the Discovery Channel’s “ Titanic Live” programming. He is a specialist in developing and operating Ocean Survey Systems and is a Technical Consultant to the USGS, Atlantic Marine Branch for development of Advanced Wide Swath Sonar, Processing and Display Systems.