Richard Thayer
SECRETARY
Richard L. Thayer is a retired Naval Officer and Corporate Business Executive. In his business career he was the Corporate Executive Director for Naval Programs and Strategic Pursuits for ITT Corporation, Exelis Inc., and Harris Corporation covering a portfolio of businesses serving the defense and aerospace markets. The portfolio ran the gamut of solutions from the Under Sea, Surface, Air, and Space domains for the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Army with emphasis on the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
He joined ITT Defense in July 2006 and moved to Exelis Inc. during their spin off from ITT in October 2011. In June 2015 Exelis was acquired by Harris Corporation. His responsibilities included shaping these Corporations into a customer-focused organization by leading government relations and business development efforts for the United States Navy/Marine Corps and Army Electronic Warfare programs. In addition, he was responsible for corporate defense-wide initiatives in the counter Improvised Explosive Device arena.
Before his business career, he served for 34 years of active duty in the United States Navy. He was a Naval Aviator flying all variants of the Navy’s premier strike-fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet from 13 different aircraft carriers. In doing so he accumulated over 1000 Carrier Landings and 4000 flight hours. His naval career was highlighted with command of both Carrier Air Wing 14 and Strike Fighter Squadron 131 involved in combat operations. His naval at sea experience also included serving as Director Joint Air Operations for Commander US Second Fleet/NATO Striking Force Atlantic.
His shore duties included a variety of high-level key leadership positions within the Secretary of the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs and Secretary of the Navy’s International Programs Office. In addition, joint assignments with Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Combating Terrorism Directorate and as the Director of Air Combat Operations for Operation Southern Watch with Joint Task Force – Southwest Asia in Saudi Arabia. He also served as Dean of the College of Professional Development at the U.S. Naval Academy leading both the Department of Naval Sciences and the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law.
He holds a B.S. degree in Mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy and a M.S. degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
