FAQs

Mary Kaye Huntsman

Co-Sponsor of Utah

Mary Kaye Huntsman is a writer, advocate, mother of seven and grandmother of 10 whose public service and humanitarian work has spanned decades and continents. As the wife of Jon Huntsman—former governor of Utah and former U.S. ambassador to Singapore, China and Russia—she has lived in 18 homes across the globe, raising a large and diverse family while actively supporting initiatives that strengthen families, youth and communities.

During her tenure as First Lady of Utah, Huntsman launched “Power in You”—a statewide youth-ambassador initiative designed to encourage students to share their personal stories of struggle, mental health and resilience. She has worked extensively in the areas of child welfare and adoption awareness, drawing on her own experience as the mother of two internationally adopted daughters from India and China.

Huntsman has spent time in orphanages, on stages and in private conversations, advocating for children, connection and the emotional well-being of families. She has long been a voice of encouragement for women navigating seasons of growth, transition and reinvention.

Two of her sons currently serve as active-duty officers in the U.S. Navy. Her ability to hold space for both public service and deeply personal caregiving has made her a trusted presence in many communities, both domestic and international.

She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, Jon.

Sharon Lee

Co-Sponsor of Utah

Sharon Lee is married to Senator Mike Lee from Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in American studies and English, and is an early reading specialist with a focus on children with dyslexia.

Sharon serves on the education and curriculum board of a non-profit organization specializing in enriching education in rural communities. She also works as a freelance editor and consultant, and volunteers with church worldwide humanitarian aid efforts including disaster relief, feeding families in third-world countries and organizing donations for school supplies, hygiene kits and resources for women’s shelters. She is involved in efforts focused on strengthening families in local and global communities. Sharon is a volunteer teacher on the influence of the Second Great Awakening, a religious movement that lead to the western expansion of the United States.

Senator Mike Lee and Sharon are the parents of three children and the grandparents of three grandchildren. Sharon enjoys snow skiing, waterskiing, cooking and travel.

Mark Rayha

President, General Dynamics Electric Boat

Mark Rayha joined General Dynamics Electric Boat in January 2020 as vice president of Finance and became the chief financial officer (CFO) in July 2021. In September 2023, he was named senior vice president and chief operating officer, responsible for strategic leadership across Operations, Planning, Supply Chain, Facilities and Finance.

Rayha started his 35-year General Dynamics career in 1989 at Land Systems at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in Warren, Michigan, and spent 17 years there in positions of increasing responsibility, including five years in Woodbridge, Virginia, on the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Program. From 2006 through 2014, Rayha worked at General Dynamics Corporate Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, including from 2012 through 2014 as the staff vice president, financial planning and analysis. In late 2014, at the time of the merger of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and General Dynamics C4 Systems into General Dynamics Mission Systems, he assumed the role of vice president and CFO of the new company.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in accounting and finance, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Mike Lee
United States Senator for Utah

Keynote Speaker

Elected in 2010 as Utah's 16th Senator, Mike Lee has spent his career defending the fundamental liberties of all Americans and advocating for America's founding constitutional principles.

Senator Lee acquired a deep respect for the Constitution early in life while watching his father, Rex E. Lee, serve as the solicitor general under President Ronald Reagan. He attended most of his father's arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, giving him a unique and up-close understanding of government.

Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in political science and served as BYU's Student Body President in his senior year. He graduated from BYU's Law School in 1997 and went on to serve as law clerk to Judge Dee Benson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and then with future Supreme Court Justice Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Lee spent several years as an attorney with the law firm Sidley & Austin specializing in appellate and Supreme Court litigation, and then served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Salt Lake City arguing cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Lee served the state of Utah as Governor Jon Huntsman's general counsel and was later honored to reunite with Justice Alito, now on the Supreme Court, for a one-year clerkship. He returned to private practice in 2007.

Senator Lee is chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, and serves on the Foreign Relations and Budget Committees.

Lee is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission for the church in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Commander Christopher Hornung

Commanding Officer, PCU Utah (SSN 801)

CDR Christopher Hornung, a native of Hauppauge, New York, received his commission through the Seaman to Admiral Program upon completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York Maritime College in 2007. He earned his Master of Arts in strategic studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

At sea, CDR Hornung’s assignments include service as a division officer aboard USS Memphis (SSN 691) where he completed combined deployments to the U.S. European and Central Commands; weapons officer aboard USS Newport News (SSN 750) where he completed a deployment to the U.S. Central Command; and as executive officer aboard USS Florida (SSGN 728B) where he completed a deployment to U.S. Central Command.

Ashore, CDR Hornung has served at Naval Submarine School as a tactics instructor, at Submarine Squadron Four (CSS 4) as the operations officer and most recently as executive officer of Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut, from February 2022 to December 2023.

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as other unit awards earned by the superb people with whom he has served.

He lives in Ledyard, Connecticut, with his wonderful wife Jaclyn and their two children, Alex and Emelia.

Lieutenant Commander Dustin Scheinert

Executive Officer, PCU Utah (SSN 801)

LCDR Dustin Scheinert is a native of Morrison, CO. He received his commission through the Seaman-to-Admiral 21 Program in 2011 from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He earned a master’s in engineering management from Old Dominion University in Virginia.

At sea, he served in various division officer roles aboard USS Newport News (SSN 750), as the engineer officer aboard USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) and as executive officer on board USS Texas (SSN 775). On board Newport News, he completed a deployment to European and Central Commands, and on Tennessee, he completed three strategic deterrent patrols. Most recently, he completed a four-year Depot Modernization Period and all initial certification and testing, including a Tactical Readiness Examination returning Texas to the fleet.

Ashore, he served as fleet watch officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and most recently as a junior board member for the Atlantic Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board.

LCDR Scheinert currently resides in Groton, CT, with his wife Randi and their two children.

Master Chief Zachary B. Nielsen

Chief of the Boat, PCU Utah (SSN 801)

Master Chief Nielsen is a native of Painesville, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Muskingum University as well as a master’s in public administration from Bowling Green State University. He enlisted in the United States Navy in April of 2008. Following completion of basic training, he reported to Groton, Connecticut, for Basic Enlisted Submarine School and follow-on accession training in the Submarine Electronics Computer Field pipeline.

His sea tours include USS Missouri (SSN 780), USS Springfield (SSN 761), USS Montpelier (SSN 765) and tours on board USS Delaware (SSN 791) and PCU Utah (SSN 801) as the chief of the boat. He has completed multiple deployments to the European theatre of command, and on shore, has served as a SONAR instructor at Naval Submarine School and as a technical specialist with the Performance Monitoring Team, New London.