Category "Uncategorized"

Matt Hawkins, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1996 and commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.  He holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.

He earned his dolphins in USS Alabama (SSBN 731) (Gold). Following four strategic deterrent patrols and an extended refit period, Matt reported to Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for instructor duty.

Matt joined the Navy Reserve in 2004 and served staff tours with Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, Submarine Force Atlantic, U.S. Joint Forces Command, OPNAV (N3/N5), and Navy Reserve Forces Command.

Navy Reserve command tours have been with units assigned to USS EMORY S. LAND (AS-39), U.S. THIRD Fleet, Submarine Force Atlantic, and U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. SIXTH Fleet. Matt is currently the commanding officer of the Navy Reserve element of the Joint Staff.

In his civilian career, he has worked for Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Special Warfare, and OPNAV (N95). In 2019, he moved to Arlington, VA and joined Sonalysts, Inc at its Crystal City office where he works on a number of projects supporting the Submarine Force. In his spare time he trains for ultramarathons, occasionally completing them.

He is married to former Patrol Squadron Sixteen skipper CDR (Ret) Amanda Hawkins. Despite significant technological advancements in the Maritime, Patrol, and Reconnaissance force, she still can’t find this career submariner unless he really wants her to. They share two strong willed children, Tyler and Astrid.

 Richard H. Ector is a 1971 Graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

He attended Nuclear Power School in Bainbridge Maryland, and the S3G Prototype in Upstate New York.

He served as Reactor Controls officer, Electrical Division Officer and Engineering officer on the USS Shark (SSN-591), a Skipjack Class boat.  After leaving the Navy, he worked at TVA at Browns Ferry, Sequoyah and Watt’s Bar Nuclear Plants, serving as assistant Site Director there. Upon leaving TVA, he went to the CIA to serve as both an analyst and a Clandestine Operations officer from 1986 to 1988, serving in Bonn, Germany and Vienna, Austria, as well as a brief posting in Sydney, Australia (Hardship posts we called them.)

His son Sam is a 2015 Naval Academy Graduate who flies SH-60 Sierra’s out of North Island Naval Air Station.

Captain Eric C. Holloway, USN (ret) served in the U.S. Navy for thirty years as a nuclear-trained submarine officer.  After receiving his commission and a B.S. in Naval Architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a M.S. in Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering before beginning nuclear power and submarine training.  During his Navy career he served on the USS LEWIS CLARK (SSBN 644)(G), USS L. MENDEL RIVERS (SSN 686), and USS BREMERTON (SSN 698).  He then commanded USS NEVADA (SSBN 733)(B).  His crews were awarded two consecutive Battle E awards while he was in command.  His final submarine force leadership tour was as Commander, Submarine Squadron TWENTY, and he finished his active duty career working with the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Eric has worked for Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) since retiring from active duty.  During his time at SPA he has served a diverse set of clients including OPNAV N97, Program Executive Office, Submarines, Submarine Security Programs, the Undersea Technology Program SUB 073, and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA).  He is currently the Assistant Group Leader for the Australia Maritime Analysis Group, leading modeling and analytic efforts in support of the Australian Submarine Force and Navy.  He has been SPA’s corporate liaison to the Naval Submarine League (NSL) for over two years, coordinating SPA support for the NSL at all levels.  He has also volunteered to coordinate annual NSL Capitol Chapter participation in Wreaths Across America for the last two years.

Eric is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys flyfishing, camping, and hiking.  He also has a lifelong affiliation with aviation and continues to build and fly radio controlled aircraft.

Captain Holloway and his wife Linda live in Aldie, Virginia.

George Allen Wallace

  CDR, USN (ret)

Commander George Wallace USN (ret.) served in the US Navy for twenty-two years as an officer on nuclear submarines.  After receiving his commission through Naval ROTC and a degree in Engineering at The Ohio State University, he served on USS JOHN ADAMS (SSBN 620) and the USS WOODROW WILSON (SSBN 624).  Commander Wallace served as Executive Officer on the Sturgeon class nuclear attack submarine USS SPADEFISH (SSN 668).  He commanded the USS HOUSTON (SSN 713) from February 1990 to August 1992.  Under his command, the Houston was awarded the CIA Meritorious Unit Citation.  He completed his active duty career as Assistant Chief of Staff, Submarine Group Five.

George and Don Keith teamed up to write the best-selling novel Final Bearing and then Firing Point, which has been adapted to become the major motion picture Hunter-Killer currently in production, and the recently released submarine thriller Dangerous Grounds.  Independently, he is the author of Operation Golden Dawn. 

George holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a degree in International Studies from the Naval War College.  In addition to numerous technical papers and articles, he holds two patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office.  After retiring from active duty, he held several positions as CTO or VP/Director of Special Projects in non-defense industry startups.  Returning to his Submarine roots, he was Director of Business Development for L3 Communications, focusing on sonar systems in US and Asia Markets.  George joined Perot Systems, now NTT Data, in 2009 where he is the Customer Executive Director Navy, overseeing all of NTT Data’s Navy work.

An avid woodworker, George has an extensive home workshop and keeps busy producing furniture, turnings, and custom pens for family and friends.  He bicycles daily to and from the Washington Navy Yard.

Commander Wallace and his wife Penny live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Christopher R. Pietras

Captain, United States Navy retired

Director, Acquisition Services Business Area

Program Manager, Team Submarine

Chris Pietras is the Business Area Director for Acquisition Services Programs at AECOM. He leads 165 AECOM personnel and 120 subcontractors supporting a variety of DoD and non-DoD programs, including PEO Submarines, Department of Homeland Security, ONR, FEMA, Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) within PEO IWS, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and personnel supporting the Royal Australian Navy’s SEA1000 submarine program office.  Chris is also a formally assigned Mentor in American Corporate Partners (ACP) Veteran Mentoring Program.

Chris’ 30+ year Navy career culminated in two command tours:  Major Program Manager for the Ship Transfer / Inactive Ships Program Office (NAVSEA PMS 333), where he was responsible for Ship Inactivation, Ship Disposal, SINKEX, Ship Donation, Artificial Reefing, three inactive fleet field activities, and the International Ship Transfer programs, where he delivered combat ready ships to far east, middle east and South American countries.  He was the Commanding Officer of Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, CT, responsible for shipbuilding, design, conversion, and repair contracts at General Dynamics Electric Boat.  During this tour, the VIRGINIA Class new construction Program and SSGN Conversion Program were under his cognizance, delivering 4 SSGNs from conversion availabilities and 4 new construction Virginia Class Submarines. He served in public and private shipyards, both fleet staffs and on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.  At sea he served aboard several submarines and made multiple deployments. He was a qualified Submarine Officer (1120), Engineering Duty Officer (1440), and a certified Acquisition Professional, with Level III DAWIA Certification and Acquisition Professional Community membership. In addition to the Submarine Warfare Officer’s pin, he is entitled to wear the Strategic Patrol Pin and the Diving Officer device.  Among his service decorations are the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), three Meritorious Unit Commendations, Navy Unit Commendation, and several other unit and service awards.

Chris is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (BS Marine Engineering) and the Naval Postgraduate School (MS and BS in Electrical Engineering).  He is a graduate of the Understanding the Government-Industry Relationship in Acquisition Seminar at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, a graduate of the Navy Corporate Business Course (NCBC) and the Pacific Leadership Academy.  He is a member of ASNE, American Legion, Eta Kappa Nu, IEEE, MOAA, Naval Submarine League, and the Navy League.  He sits on the Board of Directors for the Naval Academy Class of 1983.

Chris is married to Claudia Lupoletti.  Together they have 3 children – Michael, a graduate of  Clark University (Worcester, MA) and now a PhD candidate at Tufts University; Katie, a 2015 graduate of The College of William & Mary; and Abby, a 12^th grader (waiting on college acceptances). They reside in Burke, VA.

CDR Wes Bringham has been the NSL Capitol Chapter Secretary since early 2017.

Commander Wes Bringham graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1995.  He later earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, graduating with distinction and achieving certification as a Naval Operational Planner.

At sea, CDR Bringham’s assignments included various division officer billets on USS Hawkbill (SSN 666), Navigator and Operations Officer on USS Alexandria (SSN 757), Executive Officer on USS Virginia (SSN 774), and command of USS Bremerton (SSN 698).

Ashore, CDR Bringham served on the staffs of Commander, Submarine Squadron Twenty-Two, U. S. Pacific Command, Chief of Naval Personnel, and Commander, Submarine Squadron One. CDR Bringham is currently Executive Assistant to the director, Undersea Warfare Division (N97) in Washington, D.C.

CDR Bringham has completed five overseas deployments in support of submarine operations in the Pacific Command, European Command, and Africa Command. He and his family live in Arlington, Virginia.

In conjunction with NSL Corporate, the Capitol Chapter sponsored the refreshments at the annual DC Area Submarine Association Fall Social at Fort Myers Patton Hall on Friday evening, 3 November.  The event was attended by over 200 current, past and future submariners and their spouses and guests.   The event has roots dating back seven decades when RADM Roy Benson, a highly decorated WWII veteran and former commander of DEVRON 12 and COMSUBPAC, started the 1120 Fall Social in 1946.  He was assigned to the Pentagon after the war ended, and he took it upon himself to organize a gathering of submarine veterans inside the building. This year’s social marked the 71st anniversary of this event.  Attendees included admirals John Richardson (CNO), Frank Caldwell (NR), Joe Tofalo (CSF), Dave Johnson (Senior MA to ASN/RDA), Bill Merz (OPNAV N9), Daryl Caudle (CSP), and Dave Kriete (NSC).  The event followed the NSL History Seminar (“The Hunt for Red October – Fact and Fiction”) and the Annual Symposium (“U.S. Submarine Force – Getting Faster”) held earlier in the week and provided a fantastic ending to several days immersed in interaction, education and comradery focused around undersea warfare.”

Summer 2016 Luncheon – VADM Robert Thomas (Director of Navy Staff)

11 August 2016 – Over 50 members and guests gathered for the Capitol Chapter’s summer meeting at the Army Navy Country Club (ANCC) in Arlington, VA on Thursday, 11 August 2016. All were treated to a presentation by VADM Robert Thomas the Director of the Navy Staff at the Pentagon.

President Brad Kratovil initiated the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and recognized a number of special guests who were in attendance. With the USNA and GW ROTC midshipmen away on summer cruise and not able to be present, he also took the opportunity to introduce some of other younger attendees including junior engineers from Naval Reactors and college interns working with one of the league’s industry partners for the summer. He announced the fall luncheon planned for 13 or 14 October would feature Jonathan Ward, a Research Associate at the University of Oxford’s Changing Character of War Programme in a presentation on The Emerging Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Region. He then introduced VADM Robert Thomas. 

Vice Admiral Thomas opened by taking note of the many people in the room who had a significant impact on his career. He told entertaining sea-stories relating how they had helped keep him on track throughout his career and thanked them for their support. He then surprised everyone with an impromptu Dolphins ceremony handing over his insignia to LT Will Arnest (NROTC Instructor at George Washington University) who will soon be headed to department head school. The admiral explained the history behind the dolphins which were awarded to a young LTJG Thomas (USS GUITARRO – SSN 665) back in 1982 from his first Commanding Officer, CAPT Scott Van Hoften.  CAPT Hoften had received them many years before from his Commanding Officer on USS QUEENFISH (SSN-651), the famous Milo Daughters. To say the least, LT Arnest was “honored” in being provided the opportunity to keep the legacy going.

The admiral provided an engaging and thought-provoking presentation addressing his experiences as 7^th Fleet Commander and as Director of the Navy Staff. His cultural-political-military assessment of the PACOM area of responsibility was enlightening (and reinforced the importance of the topic planned for the next Chapter lunch). He strongly encouraged all to read the CNO’s Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority to fully appreciate the challenges and opportunities that Admiral Richardson has outlined for the Navy. Brad presented Admiral Thomas with the Chapter’s speaker medallion and an NSL challenge coin in appreciation. The meeting was closed with a prayer.

Link to the CNO’s A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority

More Pictures  –  Photo #1  Photo #2 Photo #3 Photo #4  Photo #5

Welcome to NSL Chapters Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Welcome to NSL Chapters Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!