NAVSEA Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

NAVSEA has 10 executives leading key functions including shipyard operations, strategic planning, financial management, and technology development.

Focused on maritime superiority, NAVSEA engineers, builds, and maintains advanced naval combat systems to ensure the Fleet meets critical global operational requirements through rigorous technical excellence.

Leadership Roles at NAVSEA

  • Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk) - Gregory Benton
  • Chief Financial Officer - Yekaterina Sanner
  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer - Helen Smith
  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers - Lou Olawoye
  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21 - Paul Godek
  • Chief of Staff - Brook Murphy-Larkins
  • Chief Technology Officer - Elissa Trueman
  • Team Submarine Chief of Staff - Lindsay Webster
  • Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff - Richelle Sweeney
  • Deputy Director - Anthony Jared
  • Gregory Benton - Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk)

    Gregory Benton, the Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk) at NAVSEA, directs all industrial operations and maintenance protocols for critical shipyard infrastructure. Overseeing complex repair schedules, the Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk) ensures that submarines and surface combatants return to active duty with maximum efficiency. This leadership role involves managing large-scale labor forces and technical resources to support North American maritime readiness. By optimizing shipyard throughput, Gregory Benton directly impacts the operational availability of the entire Fleet. Furthermore, the Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk) coordinates with headquarters directorates to align industrial output with long-term naval procurement goals. Through rigorous oversight of facility upgrades and safety standards, Benton secures the structural integrity of essential naval assets while maintaining strict adherence to federal engineering mandates and budgetary constraints.

    Yekaterina Sanner - Chief Financial Officer

    Yekaterina Sanner, the Chief Financial Officer at NAVSEA, manages the fiscal strategy and budgetary oversight for all engineering, shipbuilding, and maintenance programs. Overseeing the allocation of federal funds, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that financial resources support the acquisition of advanced submarines and combat systems. This leadership role involves rigorous auditing and financial planning to maintain transparency across all field activities and directorates. By optimizing the budget lifecycle, Yekaterina Sanner directly impacts the command's ability to sustain long-term naval projects. Furthermore, the Chief Financial Officer collaborates with the Board and executive leadership to forecast future funding requirements based on Fleet operational needs. Through precise financial modeling and risk assessment, Sanner secures the fiscal health of the organization, ensuring that every dollar spent contributes to the development and maintenance of the most capable naval force in the world.

    Helen Smith - Deputy Chief Financial Officer

    Helen Smith, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at NAVSEA, supports the execution of financial policies and the management of complex budgetary accounts for command-wide operations. Overseeing the daily financial reporting and compliance activities, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer ensures that all directorates adhere to federal fiscal regulations. This leadership role involves analyzing expenditure patterns to identify opportunities for cost savings in ship maintenance and procurement. By maintaining rigorous financial controls, Helen Smith directly impacts the overall fiscal stability of the organization. Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer assists in the preparation of long-term budget forecasts to support the command's strategic objectives. Through detailed oversight of financial data and internal audits, Smith secures the integrity of the command's fiscal operations, ensuring that resources are effectively directed toward the most critical naval engineering and maintenance priorities.

    Lou Olawoye - Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers

    Lou Olawoye, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers at NAVSEA, manages the financial planning and budgetary execution specifically for the aircraft carrier program office. Overseeing the funding lifecycle for carrier construction and mid-life maintenance, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers ensures that these massive capital projects remain financially viable. This leadership role involves coordinating with program managers to track expenditures and ensure that all procurement activities align with federal funding cycles. By optimizing the financial management of carrier assets, Lou Olawoye directly impacts the operational longevity of the nation's most significant naval platforms. Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers provides critical financial analysis to support decision-making regarding carrier upgrades and modernization. Through diligent oversight of program budgets, Olawoye secures the fiscal resources necessary to maintain the dominance of the aircraft carrier fleet.

    Paul Godek - Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21

    Paul Godek, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21 at NAVSEA, manages the financial oversight for the Sea 21 directorate, which focuses on the lifecycle management of surface ships. Overseeing the budget for ship modernization and sustainment, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21 ensures that surface combatants receive the necessary funding to remain operational throughout their service life. This leadership role involves analyzing maintenance costs and prioritizing financial resources to address critical ship repairs. By optimizing the financial strategy for surface ship sustainment, Paul Godek directly impacts the availability and readiness of the surface fleet. Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21 collaborates with program managers to ensure that modernization projects stay within budgetary limits. Through precise financial tracking and resource management, Godek secures the fiscal health of the Sea 21 directorate, supporting the long-term mission of maintaining a capable surface navy.

    Brook Murphy-Larkins - Chief of Staff

    Brook Murphy-Larkins, the Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, coordinates administrative operations and strategic planning across all headquarters directorates. Overseeing the daily execution of command priorities, the Chief of Staff ensures that leadership directives reach every field activity and affiliated Program Executive Office. This leadership role involves managing the flow of information to the executive team to facilitate rapid decision-making regarding ship maintenance and combat system development. By streamlining internal governance, Brook Murphy-Larkins directly impacts the agility of the organization in responding to evolving Fleet requirements. Furthermore, the Chief of Staff manages high-level stakeholder engagement to maintain alignment with federal defense objectives. Through meticulous oversight of organizational protocols and resource management, Murphy-Larkins secures the operational efficiency of the command, ensuring that all departments function as a cohesive unit to support the long-term mission of naval superiority.

    Elissa Trueman - Chief Technology Officer

    Elissa Trueman, the Chief Technology Officer at NAVSEA, directs the research, development, and integration of cutting-edge combat systems and maritime technologies. Overseeing the innovation pipeline, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that the Fleet utilizes the most advanced engineering solutions available for modern warfare. This leadership role involves partnering with research laboratories and private sector contractors to accelerate the deployment of new shipboard capabilities. By driving technological advancement, Elissa Trueman directly impacts the combat effectiveness of submarines and surface vessels. Furthermore, the Chief Technology Officer evaluates emerging threats to prioritize technical investments that maintain a competitive edge in global maritime environments. Through strategic oversight of the technology roadmap, Trueman secures the future of naval engineering, ensuring that the command remains at the forefront of innovation while meeting the rigorous performance standards required for high-stakes naval operations.

    Lindsay Webster - Team Submarine Chief of Staff

    Lindsay Webster, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, manages the operational coordination and administrative support for the submarine acquisition and maintenance portfolio. Overseeing the integration of technical and programmatic teams, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff ensures that submarine development projects meet strict delivery timelines and performance benchmarks. This leadership role involves facilitating collaboration between engineering directorates and field activities to resolve complex design challenges. By streamlining project workflows, Lindsay Webster directly impacts the readiness of the submarine fleet. Furthermore, the Team Submarine Chief of Staff monitors resource utilization to ensure that all submarine-related initiatives remain within scope and budget. Through constant communication with executive leadership, Webster secures the alignment of submarine programs with the broader strategic goals of the command, ensuring that the nation maintains a superior undersea presence through consistent and reliable technical execution.

    Richelle Sweeney - Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff

    Richelle Sweeney, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff at NAVSEA, manages the administrative and operational functions of the contracting division responsible for all ship and combat system acquisitions. Overseeing the contract lifecycle, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff ensures that all procurement agreements meet legal and performance requirements. This leadership role involves coordinating with legal teams and program offices to facilitate the timely execution of high-value contracts. By streamlining the contracting process, Richelle Sweeney directly impacts the speed at which the command can acquire essential naval technology. Furthermore, the Navsea Contracts Directorate Chief of Staff monitors vendor performance and contract compliance to protect the interests of the command. Through rigorous oversight of procurement protocols, Sweeney secures the integrity of the acquisition process, ensuring that all contracts support the mission of building and maintaining a superior naval force.

    Anthony Jared - Deputy Director

    Anthony Jared, the Deputy Director at NAVSEA, manages the integration of command staff activities and affiliated Program Executive Offices to streamline organizational performance. Overseeing cross-functional workflows, the Deputy Director ensures that engineering and procurement initiatives align with the broader mission of maintaining naval combat systems. This leadership role involves facilitating communication between field activities and headquarters to resolve operational bottlenecks. By refining internal processes, Anthony Jared directly impacts the speed at which the command delivers critical technology to the Fleet. Furthermore, the Deputy Director monitors the execution of large-scale acquisition programs to ensure compliance with federal standards. Through constant evaluation of organizational health and resource allocation, Jared drives the strategic alignment of diverse departments, ensuring that every division contributes effectively to the overarching goal of maritime dominance and sustained operational readiness across all global theaters.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding NAVSEA Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads NAVSEA?
    NAVSEA is led by Gregory Benton (Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk)), along with executives such as Yekaterina Sanner (Chief Financial Officer) and Helen Smith (Deputy Chief Financial Officer).
    Who is part of NAVSEA’s executive team?
    The executive team of NAVSEA includes leaders such as Gregory Benton (Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk)), Yekaterina Sanner (Chief Financial Officer), Helen Smith (Deputy Chief Financial Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does NAVSEA have?
    NAVSEA has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in NAVSEA’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of NAVSEA includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer & Executive VP, Naval Shipyard Installation (Norfolk), Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Peo Aircraft Carriers, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Sea 21.