NAVSEA Executive and Leadership Team

Yekaterina Sanner, the Chief Financial Officer at NAVSEA, manages the fiscal health and budgetary planning for the entire command. Sanner directs the allocation of funds across headquarters directorates and affiliated Program Executive Offices to support the construction and maintenance of naval vessels. By implementing rigorous financial controls, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that all procurement activities align with federal mandates and operational priorities. Yekaterina Sanner oversees the complex financial reporting required for large-scale maritime engineering projects. This leadership role involves balancing immediate Fleet requirements with long-term capital investments in submarines and combat systems. Through precise fiscal management, the Chief Financial Officer optimizes the use of taxpayer resources to maximize the impact of every dollar spent on naval defense. Sanner coordinates with internal stakeholders to maintain transparency and accountability in all financial operations. This position remains vital to the command's ability to sustain a modern, capable Fleet through disciplined economic planning and strategic resource management.

Cassandra Hafford, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at NAVSEA, assists in the management of fiscal planning and budgetary execution for the command. Hafford directs the analysis of financial data to support the construction and maintenance of naval vessels. By monitoring expenditures across headquarters directorates, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer ensures that all procurement activities remain within budgetary constraints. Cassandra Hafford coordinates with the Chief Financial Officer to implement rigorous financial controls and reporting standards. This leadership role involves evaluating the cost-effectiveness of engineering projects and field activities. Through detailed financial oversight, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer optimizes the allocation of resources to meet the Fleet's requirements. Hafford supports the command's mission by ensuring fiscal transparency and accountability in all operations. This position remains vital to the command's ability to sustain a modern, capable Fleet through disciplined economic planning and the strategic management of financial assets across the entire organization.

Burt Canfield, the Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, manages internal command operations and coordinates headquarters directorates to ensure organizational alignment. Canfield directs the flow of information between affiliated Program Executive Offices and field activities, maintaining operational readiness across the entire enterprise. By streamlining administrative processes, the Chief of Staff supports the engineering and maintenance of ships and combat systems. This leadership role requires constant collaboration with senior command staff to address complex logistical challenges within the maritime defense sector. Burt Canfield optimizes resource allocation to meet the Fleet's current and future requirements. Through rigorous oversight of internal workflows, the Chief of Staff facilitates the delivery of high-performance naval assets. This position remains central to the mission of building and buying advanced submarines and surface vessels, ensuring that all command activities adhere to strict federal standards while maintaining peak efficiency across the Washington Navy Yard and broader field operations.

Elissa Trueman, the Chief Technology Officer at NAVSEA, drives the technical strategy for engineering and maintaining sophisticated combat systems. Trueman oversees the integration of emerging technologies into submarine and surface ship platforms to enhance maritime capabilities. By aligning research initiatives with the Fleet's operational needs, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that all naval systems remain at the forefront of global defense innovation. Elissa Trueman manages the technical directorates responsible for the lifecycle of complex maritime hardware. This role involves evaluating new engineering methodologies to improve the durability and performance of naval assets. Through strategic partnerships with industry and academic institutions, the Chief Technology Officer accelerates the development of next-generation combat systems. Trueman maintains a focus on long-term technical superiority, ensuring that the command effectively addresses evolving threats. This leadership function supports the broader mission of delivering reliable, cutting-edge technology to the Fleet, maintaining a robust defense posture across all maritime domains.

Joan Bunker, the Chief of Staff for the Submarine and Submersible Directorate at NAVSEA, coordinates the administrative and operational functions specific to the submarine fleet. Bunker directs the internal processes that support the design, construction, and maintenance of advanced submersible platforms. By facilitating communication between engineering teams and program offices, the Chief of Staff for the Submarine and Submersible Directorate ensures that all technical milestones meet the Fleet's demanding schedules. Joan Bunker manages the daily operations of the directorate, focusing on the unique requirements of underwater combat systems. This leadership role involves resolving complex logistical issues to maintain the readiness of the submarine force. Through effective coordination, the Chief of Staff for the Submarine and Submersible Directorate supports the delivery of superior underwater capabilities. Bunker ensures that all activities within the directorate align with the broader mission of maintaining a dominant maritime presence, providing the necessary administrative structure to sustain the nation's critical submarine assets.

Richelle Sweeney, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, oversees the administrative operations of the contracting division responsible for acquiring naval systems. Sweeney directs the internal workflows that support the procurement of ships, submarines, and combat systems. By managing the directorate's operational tempo, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff ensures that all acquisition processes remain compliant with federal regulations. Richelle Sweeney coordinates with program offices to facilitate the timely execution of complex contracts. This leadership role involves streamlining the administrative support required for large-scale defense acquisitions. Through rigorous oversight, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff maintains the integrity of the procurement lifecycle. Sweeney ensures that all contracting activities support the command's mission to build and buy the necessary hardware for the Fleet. This position remains essential for maintaining the operational readiness of the Navy, providing the administrative foundation for successful contract management and vendor engagement across the entire enterprise.

Nic DeCoteau, the Chief Information Officer, Activity at NAVSEA, manages the digital infrastructure and information systems that support the command's engineering and maintenance operations. DeCoteau directs the implementation of secure data networks to facilitate the design and lifecycle management of naval combat systems. By overseeing the cybersecurity posture of the command, the Chief Information Officer, Activity ensures the protection of sensitive technical data and operational information. Nic DeCoteau coordinates with headquarters directorates to integrate advanced information technology solutions into the shipbuilding process. This leadership role involves modernizing digital tools to improve the efficiency of field activities and program offices. Through strategic investment in information systems, the Chief Information Officer, Activity supports the command's ability to maintain a technologically superior Fleet. DeCoteau ensures that all digital assets remain resilient against evolving threats, providing the necessary infrastructure to sustain the command's mission-critical operations in a complex, data-driven maritime environment.

Lindsay Webster, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, manages the administrative and operational coordination for the specialized team dedicated to submarine development. Webster directs the internal processes that support the design, acquisition, and maintenance of the nation's submarine fleet. By facilitating collaboration between engineering directorates and program offices, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff ensures that all project timelines align with the Fleet's operational requirements. Lindsay Webster oversees the daily operations of the team, focusing on the unique technical and logistical needs of underwater platforms. This leadership role involves resolving complex challenges to maintain the readiness of the submarine force. Through effective coordination, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff supports the delivery of superior underwater capabilities. Webster ensures that all activities within the team align with the broader mission of maintaining a dominant maritime presence, providing the necessary administrative structure to sustain the nation's critical submarine assets.

Eric LaCross, the Head Corporate Operations Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, manages the administrative and operational functions of the corporate headquarters. LaCross directs the internal processes that support the command's overall mission to engineer, build, and maintain naval systems. By coordinating between headquarters directorates and field activities, the Head Corporate Operations Chief of Staff ensures that all corporate functions align with the Fleet's operational needs. Eric LaCross oversees the daily operations of the corporate staff, focusing on organizational efficiency and process improvement. This leadership role involves resolving complex logistical issues to maintain the readiness of the entire command. Through effective coordination, the Head Corporate Operations Chief of Staff supports the delivery of superior naval capabilities. LaCross ensures that all corporate activities align with the broader mission of maintaining a dominant maritime presence, providing the necessary administrative structure to sustain the nation's critical naval assets and combat systems.

Timothy Barnard, the Deputy Chief Technology Officer & Director, Navsea Technology Office at NAVSEA, manages the technical research and development initiatives for the command. Barnard directs the activities of the Technology Office to ensure the integration of advanced engineering solutions into naval platforms. By overseeing the development of new combat systems, the Deputy Chief Technology Officer & Director, Navsea Technology Office supports the Fleet's current and future operational requirements. Timothy Barnard coordinates with the Chief Technology Officer to align research priorities with the command's engineering goals. This leadership role involves evaluating emerging technologies to improve the performance and durability of ships and submarines. Through strategic management of the Technology Office, the Deputy Chief Technology Officer & Director, Navsea Technology Office accelerates the delivery of innovative maritime capabilities. Barnard ensures that all technical efforts remain focused on maintaining a robust defense posture, providing the necessary expertise to sustain the command's mission of technical excellence.