Giao Phan

Ms. Giao Phan serves as Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Executive Director. In this capacity, she provides executive leadership to more than 85,000 military and civilian personnel across the globe who execute the research, development, acquisition, maintenance, modernization, and inactivation of the Navy’s battle force and most major combat and Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) systems.

Ms. Phan entered the Senior Executive Service (SES) in November 2007 as the Coast Guard Deputy Director of Acquisition Programs where she oversaw 400 military and civilian personnel in their execution of a broad acquisition portfolio including 12 multi-billion dollar projects, 7 subordinate Program Offices, and a $30 billion investment portfolio dedicated to the modernization and recapitalization of surface, air, command and control, and logistics assets required for the USCG’s maritime missions.

Most recently, Ms. Phan served dual hatted as the Executive Director for Ship Maintenance and Modernization (SEA21B) & Deputy Commander for Navy Regional Maintenance Center (CNRMC) at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). In this capacity, she oversaw the programs responsible for the life-cycle management of the Navy’s in-service surface ships, including critical modernization and maintenance efforts, as well as Foreign Military Sales, training, and ship inactivation; she also provided executive leadership to the operations and management of the Regional Maintenance Centers in the execution of private sector, depot-level maintenance and modernization, surface ship intermediate-level maintenance, and fleet technical and engineering support world-wide.

She also served as the Executive Director of Program Executive Office, Aircraft Carriers (2013-2019), where she was responsible for a $40 billion acquisition portfolio including the design and construction of Ford-class aircraft carriers, execution of the mid-life Refueling Complex Overhauls for Nimitz-class carriers, inactivation of USS Enterprise (CVN 65), and life cycle sustainment for all in-service USN carriers.

She began her Navy civil service career in 1984 and has held numerous leadership positions managing development and integration programs including Deputy Program Manager for the In-Service Aircraft Carrier Program Office (2006 - 2007) and Assistant Program Manager for Nimitz-class carriers (2004 - 2006), where she led the design, construction, test, and delivery of the final ship, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), a $6 billion dollar ACAT I program. Other previous assignments include Director for Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Ships for Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (Ships), and as the Electronics Systems Manager for the Seawolf Fast Attack Submarine Program.

Ms. Phan received her Civil Engineering degree from Virginia Tech, and earned her MS in Management from Florida Tech. Her awards include Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award (2019), the AAGEN Stanley Suyat Memorial Leadership Award (2016), USCG Superior Achievement Award (2013), Federal Asian Pacific American Council Outstanding Individual Leadership Award (2013), Women of Color STEM Career Achievement in Government Award (2010), Navy Superior Civilian Service Award (2006), and the Navy Meritorious Civilian Award (2004).