Executive Fellows

James H. Smerchansky
_{SES USN (Ret)}

Jim Smerchansky is the Executive Vice President for Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), an information technology company providing disruptive innovation which dramatically improves the quality and accelerates the delivery of capability to the U.S. Military.

Completing over 35 years of dedicated service as a Department of the Navy civilian, he retired in December 2020 as the Executive Director of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) which designs, builds, and maintains the U.S. Navy’s ships, submarines and warfighting systems.

From 2014 to 2016, he served as the Executive Director of the Marine Corps Systems Command which designs, builds, and maintains everything a Marine wears, shoots, drives and uses to communicate.  In addition, from 2009-2014, Jim was the Chief Engineer of the Marine Corps.

Prior to reporting to the Marine Corps Systems Command, Jim served as the Director of Technology Development and Transition in Program Executive Officer: Integrated Warfare Systems, one of the Navy’s acquisition offices which develops and sustains Combat and Weapon Systems for all Navy Surface Ships (2006-2009). 

From 2004 to 2006, Jim was the Deputy Executive Director for Undersea Technology at the Naval Sea Systems Command.

From 2002 to 2004, Jim was the Science and Technology Advisor to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i — an operational Command which advances Indo-Pacific regional maritime security and enhances stability in the Pacific.