Media Center

Teresa Stackley

Ship Sponsor

Terry Stackley has lived by the sea, close to the Navy, all her life. Her father served as a Navy Communications Technician prior to taking on a career in naval design, and she would spend her childhood years from her birthplace in New Jersey, to Connecticut and Massachusetts, before settling in the Baltimore area. Terry moved with her family as her father climbed the ranks at private shipyards in Philadelphia, Groton, Quincy and Sparrows Point, before he returned to public service with the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

Terry graduated from Western Maryland College—now McDaniel College—in 1979, earning her bachelor's degree in mathematics and launching her on an early career in computer programming. She married the love of her life, Sean Stackley, in 1980, and would dedicate nearly four decades as a Navy wife at duty stations stretching from San Diego to Boston, Ottawa, Canada to Bath, Maine, Norfolk, and finally arriving in Northern Virginia, where Sean would complete his career in uniform and subsequently serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition from 2008 to 2017. Among her many cherished memories, Terry prizes her role 'pulling the trigger' at Bath Iron Works to launch the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54).

Terry is passionate about music, and after leaving her career as a computer programmer to raise her children, she served as the music director for her church for 12 years. In 2009 she founded the Lake Ridge Chorale, an auditioned community choir and nonprofit organization in Northern Virginia, which also serves local charities through concert donations. In her spare time, Terry loves to garden, cook, sew and serve as hostess, especially for Navy football tailgates and U.S. Naval Academy 9th Company reunions.

In 2019, Terry and Sean relocated to Annapolis, Maryland, where she loves being a part of the Naval Academy community and a sponsor to Midshipmen. Terry and Sean are blessed with four beautiful children, Erin, Tess, Scott and Maura, and are proud grandparents of Orson and Callan.

Kevin Graney

President, General Dynamics Electric Boat

Kevin Graney became president of General Dynamics Electric Boat in October 2019.

Graney began his shipbuilding career with Electric Boat in 1995, as a senior engineer, working on the high-speed turbine generator set for the Virginia-class submarine. He was then assigned as a fluid systems supervisor, working with Newport News Shipbuilding to design the reactor plant fluid systems of the next-generation aircraft carrier—the CVN 78 program. He later managed a team of Electric Boat designers and engineers in the development of fluid systems for the British Astute-class submarine program. After working on the British submarine program, he became the program manager of capital projects and metrics in the Virginia-class submarine program office.

Graney joined General Dynamics NASSCO in January 2006 as director of quality assurance and was promoted to vice president of engineering in July 2007. In 2010, Graney assumed the post of vice president of Programs and in January 2013 was promoted to vice president of Operations. In November 2013, Graney was named vice president and general manager. In January 2017, Graney became president of General Dynamics NASSCO and a vice president of the General Dynamics Corporation.

Graney was born in Cheektowaga, New York, in January 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering and nuclear science from the State University of New York Maritime College in 1986. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a naval officer and served aboard submarines and as an instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa in New York. Graney currently lives in Stonington, Connecticut, and is married to Cheryl Kidd Graney from Colchester, Connecticut. Together they have a daughter, Katherine.

Nickolas H. Guertin
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition

Keynote Speaker

Nickolas H. Guertin was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition on December 20, 2023. A presidential appointee confirmed by the United States Senate, he leads the Department of the Navy’s Research, Development, Acquisition and Sustainment programs and the contracting community. Prior to this role, Mr. Guertin served as the senior advisor to the secretary of defense on operational and live-fire test and evaluation of Department of Defense weapon systems.

Mr. Guertin has an extensive four-decade combined military and civilian career in submarine operations; ship construction and maintenance; development and testing of weapons, sensors and combat management products, including the improvement of systems engineering; and defense acquisition. Most recently, he has performed applied research for government and academia in software-reliant and cyber-physical systems at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute.

Over his career, Mr. Guertin has led organizational transformation, improved competition and increased application of modular open-system approaches, prototyping and experimentation. He has also researched and published extensively on software-reliant system design, testing and acquisition. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from Bryant University. He is a retired Navy Reserve engineering duty officer, was Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act-certified in program management and engineering and is a licensed professional engineer.

Commander Randall J. Leslie

Commanding Officer, PCU Idaho (SSN 799)

A native of Highland, CA, Commander (CDR) Leslie graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. After completing his initial nuclear power and submarine training, he served as a division officer onboard USS Buffalo (SSN 715). Following his division officer tour, CDR Leslie obtained his master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland and taught in the mechanical engineering department at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Following graduation from the Submarine Officer Advanced Course, CDR Leslie served as the navigator/operations officer onboard USS Asheville (SSN 758). After his tour as navigator/operations officer, he served at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., in the Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security, and in the Office of Japanese Affairs. During this tour he obtained a master's degree in international policy and practice from George Washington University.

After completing the Submarine Command Course, CDR Leslie reported as executive officer on board USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) (BLUE). During his tour on Kentucky, the ship completed two strategic deterrent patrols and was awarded the Battle "E." After his executive officer tour, CDR Leslie reported to Chief of Naval Operations Assessment Division (OPNAV N81) at the Pentagon as a munitions analyst.

CDR Leslie is now privileged to serve alongside the world's greatest sailors as commanding officer of PCU Idaho (SSN 799).

Lieutenant Commander Justin DeVillar

Executive Officer, PCU Idaho (SSN 799)

LCDR DeVillar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and electrical engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 2010. As a Bowman scholar, he earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2011.

LCDR DeVillar served as engineer officer on USS California (SSN 781) and as a division officer on USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23). LCDR DeVillar’s shore assignments included staff training officer and shift engineer on the MARF Prototype at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Ballston Spa, NY, and engineer on Moored Training Ship 626 Daniel Webster at NPTU Charleston, SC.

LCDR DeVillar and his wife reside in Groton, Connecticut, with their two children.

Master Chief Travis Skipper

Chief of the Boat, PCU Idaho (SSN 799)

Master Chief Skipper is a native of Greenville, SC. He enlisted in July of 1997 attending recruit training at RTC Great Lakes, IL. ETVCM Skipper reported to Submarine School followed by Electronics Technician “A” School. In January of 1998, he reported to TRITRAFAC Kings Bay to complete IC Principles and the Strategic Navigation Operator course. Following graduation, he reported to USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740), where he completed eight strategic deterrent patrols and was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” twice for the ship’s performance between 1999 and 2001.

Following graduation from SSN Electronics Technician “C” School in 2007, Master Chief Skipper reported to USS Asheville (SSN 758), where he served as the navigation leading petty officer, which saw him through to an advancement to chief petty officer. During his short time on board, Asheville completed a DSRA, acoustic trials and ECDIS-N certification. Master Chief Skipper then reported to USS Hampton (SSN 767) as the navigation leading chief petty officer in late 2007. While on Hampton, he served also as departmental LCPO, command DAPA and the forward drill coordinator. During his time aboard, the ship completed a DSRA, acoustic trials, ECDIS-N certification, WESTPAC and CENTCOM deployments and was awarded the Battle Efficiency “E” for 2008.

In December 2014, Master Chief Skipper reported to USS Olympia (SSN 717) as the navigation department LCPO. He also served as the supply department LCPO, the torpedo division LCPO, coordinated four CPO transition seasons, completed his Chief of the Boat qualification and graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy. During his time on board, the ship completed a DSRA, acoustic trials, two WESTPAC deployments and a successful HARPOON launch during a RIMPAC exercise. Master Chief Skipper’s shore assignments include NAVORDTESTU in Cape Canaveral, FL, an instructor at TRITRAFAC Kings Bay and Naval Base Point Loma as the assistant operations officer.

Master Chief Skipper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Excelsior College, a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Massachusetts and is currently working towards a doctorate in strategic leadership from Liberty University. He is married to his wife, Cari, and they have three children: Travis, Eliana and Kristena. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (10 awards) and the Good Conduct Medal (eight awards).