Department of Defense

Bio, via White House:

Mr. Fahey most recently served as vice president of combat vehicles and armaments at Cypress International, Inc. Mr. Fahey previously served as executive director of Systems Engineering, integration directorate in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and as program executive officer for combat support and combat service support at Program Executive Officer Ground Combat Systems in Warren, Michigan. He entered civil service in 1981 following graduation from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in industrial engineering and operations research. He has been the recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, Exceptional Civilian Service Award, Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and the Superior Civilian Service Award.

Bio, via LinkedIn:

Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Advanced Capabilities, reporting directly to the Under Secretary of Defense Research and Engineering within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Directs an organization whose mission is to recognize, explore, and force the development and integration of new technology to maintain U.S. technological superiority.

Bio, via United States Navy:

Mr. Geurts previously served as the Acquisition Executive, U.S.. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, where he was responsible for all special operations forces acquisition, technology and logistics. In this position his innovative leadership and technological ingenuity provided rapid and affordable acquisition that positively impacted the USSOCOM acquisition work force and the special operations forces capability on the battlefield. These contributions were recognized by both private and public institutions during his tenure to include earning the Presidential Rank Award, USSOCOM Medal, William Perry Award and Federal Times Vanguard Award for Executive of the Year. Prior to Senior Executive Service, Mr. Geurts began his career as an Air Force officer where he served as an acquisition program manager with engineering and program management leadership positions in numerous weapon systems including intercontinental ballistic missiles, surveillance platforms, tactical fighter aircraft, advanced avionics systems, stealth cruise missiles, training systems and manned and unmanned special operations aircraft. He has over 30 years of extensive joint acquisition experience and served in all levels of acquisition leadership positions including Acquisition Executive, Program Executive Officer and Program Manager of Major Defense Acquisition Programs. Mr. Geurts is a distinguished 1987 ROTC graduate from Lehigh University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB and in National Security Resourcing from Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. Mr. Geurts also attended executive leadership and international studies programs at Harvard Kennedy School and George Washington Elliot School.

Bio, via White House:

Mr. Gibson is currently the Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense. Previously, Mr. Gibson was President, Chief Executive Officer of XCOR Aerospace, Inc., a developer of rocket engine systems and components and space launch systems. Mr. Gibson was also chairman of the advisory committee at Looking Glass Investments. Mr. Gibson previously held leadership positions with Beechcraft including Senior Vice President of Global Mission Support, Vice President of Special Mission Aircraft, and Vice President of Finance (CFO), Government, and Defense Business. He also served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management/Comptroller and CFO), as well as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Management Reform). Mr. Gibson received a BA in economics and a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Dallas, and is a recipient of the Air Force Award for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Bio, via National Aeronautics and Space Administration:

Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Michael Griffin began his duties as the 11th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on April 14, 2005. As Administrator, he leads the NASA team and manages its resources to advance the U.S. Vision for Space Exploration. Prior to being nominated as NASA Administrator, Griffin was serving as Space Department Head at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. He was previously President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc., and also served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va., including Chief Executive Officer of Orbital's Magellan Systems division and General Manager of the Space Systems Group. Earlier in his career at NASA, Griffin served as associate administrator for exploration from August 1991 through March 1993, becoming chief engineer in March 1993 through January 1994. He also served as deputy for technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University, where he taught courses in spacecraft design, applied mathematics, guidance and navigation, compressible flow, computational fluid dynamics, spacecraft attitude control, astrodynamics and introductory aerospace engineering. He is the lead author of more than two dozen technical papers, as well as the textbook, "Space Vehicle Design." A registered professional engineer in Maryland and California, Griffin is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of Astronautics, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the AIAA Space Systems Medal, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given to a non-government employee. Griffin received a bachelor's degree in physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in aerospace science from Catholic University of America; a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland; a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California; a master's degree in applied physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in business administration from Loyola College; and a master's degree in Civil Engineering from George Washington University. He is a certified flight instructor with instrument and multiengine ratings.

Bio, via White House:

Mr. Harker currently serves as Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary of Financial Policy for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Harker served in a mixture of operational and financial management tours before retiring from active duty as a Coast Guard commander in 2012. Since retiring from active duty, he spent two years in public accounting before returning to the Coast Guard as a civilian. His final assignment on active duty before retirement was in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Harker is a recipient of the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal, and Achievement Medal; the American society of military comptrollers distinguished award for business management; and the association of government accountants achievement of the year award. Mr. Harker is a graduate of the University of California and received his masters of business administration from the University of Miami.

Bio, via United States Army Corps of Engineers:

Henderson is a native of South Dakota and a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 1994. Prior to taking command in Omaha, Henderson served as the United States Army War College Fellow to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Security Studies Program. His previous assignment was serving as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General for the U. S. Army’s 1st Corps located at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. Henderson’s past assignments include commanding the 864th Engineer Battalion (Task Force Pacemaker) during OEF-13; division chief of staff and deputy commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division, deputy commander for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers District at Honolulu, Hawaii, battalion operations officer (S3) and later executive officer for the 25th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion (Task Force Phoenix) during OIF 06-08, operations officer for the Baghdad Area Engineer Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Central District during OIF 01-02, civil engineer, resident engineer, and later deputy commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District at Vicksburg, Mississippi; company commander for “Charlie” Company, 864th Engineer Battalion at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and later Aide De Camp to the Commanding General of U.S. Army Alaska; platoon leader, executive officer, and company commander in the 44th Engineer Battalion and 2nd Infantry Division Engineer Brigade in South Korea. Henderson’s military education includes graduation from the Joint Combined Warfighters Course, U.S. Army War College Fellowship Program, Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Air Assault School, and Airborne School. Henderson is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of South Dakota and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, the Army Engineer Association, and the Association of the United States Army. Henderson’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal (5 oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

Bio, via Department of Defense:

Prior to becoming Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, Mr. Hood served as the Vice President for Government Affairs for CH2M, where he was responsible for advising the company on its Federal Government work. Mr. Hood previously served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush in the Office of Legislative Affairs, overseeing coordination with the Senate, including the Armed Services, Homeland Security, Foreign Relations, and Intelligence Committees. Before working on the White House staff, Mr. Hood served at the Pentagon as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs where he was responsible for promoting the policies, strategies, and budget of the Department of Defense to the United States Congress. Mr. Hood also served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) for Budget and Appropriations Affairs, working closely with the Appropriations Committees of the U.S. Congress. Mr. Hood also served for five years as the Director of Congressional Affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy. The NNSA is responsible for maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile, as well as nonproliferation efforts. Prior to joining the Bush Administration in 2001, Mr. Hood worked in a number of different capacities on Capitol Hill. He began his congressional career with Congressman Newt Gingrich as his Senior Legislative Assistant and following the 1994 election, became an Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for Policy. In 1999, he joined the House Committee on Science as a Professional Staff Member, where he worked on a number of issues relating to energy and environmental policy. Finally, Rob served as the Senior Policy Advisor to then-Governor Tommy Thompson. Mr. Hood is from Marietta, Georgia, and a graduate of the University of West Georgia. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and four children.