US Navy’s Brad Skillman, Deputy CNO, to Keynote 2025 Navy Summit
The Potomac Officers Club is thrilled to announce Vice Adm. Brad Skillman, deputy chief of naval operations for integration of capabilities and resources, N8, as a keynote speaker for the 2025 Navy Summit. The August 26 summit promises to be a pivotal gathering for defense and GovCon leaders, featuring high-level discussions on naval emerging technologies, advanced strategy and industry partnership opportunities. Learn more about Vice Adm. Skillman’s distinguished career and secure your spot at this prestigious GovCon conference.
Who Is Brad Skillman?
Vice Adm. Skillman was one of a handful of Navy servicemembers considered for the highest ranking officer position in the service: chief of naval operations. He’s a distinguished leader with notable sea duty: he served aboard USS Josephus Daniels (CG 27), USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), USS Nashville (LPD 13), and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), and commanded Amphibious Squadrons 8 and 4. Notably, he was the commissioning commanding officer of USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and also led USS Ponce (LPD 15) and USS San Antonio (LPD 17).
Ashore, Skillman held critical roles including lead ship maintenance action officer in N43, surface warfare program analyst in N70, military assistant and director of operations for the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics and executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller.
As a flag officer, he has served as deputy commander and chief of staff at NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre in Norway, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, director of enterprise support at MyNavyHR, and most recently, director of the Navy’s programming division, or OPNAV N80.
Skillman and the ESG-2 Maritime Operations Center
BALTOPS 2019 under Vice Adm. Skillman’s leadership was paradigm-changing for Expeditionary Strike Group 2, or ESG-2. For the first time in nearly three decades, ESG‑2’s Maritime Operations Center, or MOC, in Norfolk, Virginia, was completely overhauled—just in time to lead a 21-ship multinational Amphibious Task Force across the Baltic Sea.
This wasn’t just an exercise—it was a demonstration of what next-generation command and control looks like. Thanks to its redesigned, remotely capable MOC, ESG‑2 coordinated seamlessly with forward-deployed ships and NATO partners in real time. Vice Adm. Skillman, at the time, called it a crucial step in maintaining the Navy’s edge in global maritime competition.
Supporting over 11,000 sailors and marines—with the capacity to scale up to 14,000—ESG‑2 commanded 23 joint and allied commands during the operation. Embarked aboard USS Mount Whitney, the team also led the NATO Amphibious Leaders Expeditionary Symposium, setting the standard for future multinational amphibious integration.
Christopher Galarza, ESG-2 MOC planner, put it best: this upgrade turned the MOC from a concept into a warfighting tool. Under Skillman’s leadership, ESG‑2 proved it can command from anywhere, anytime—delivering strategic punch, interoperability and forward-thinking readiness for today’s high-end fight.
What GovCons Can Expect From Skillman
Under Vice Adm. Skillman’s guidance, the Navy is tightening the feedback loop between combat reality, resource allocation and program development. His recent strategic decisions—from maintaining readiness to planning the fleet of tomorrow—reflect a thoughtful leader balancing risk and fiscal integrity.
As the Navy confronts geopolitical competition, rising technology costs, and legacy platform challenges, Skillman’s accomplishments serve as a blueprint: operational tactician meets savvy financial steward, building a Navy that is ready, integrated and cost-effective.
Whether leading a new warship, shaping NATO exercises, or balancing billion-dollar budgets, Vice Adm. Brad Skillman’s recent accomplishments speak to a career defined by effective integration—ensuring that the Navy’s next chapter is both strategically nimble and financially responsible.
Why Attend the 2025 Navy Summit?
Attending the 2025 Navy Summit is more than a networking opportunity—it’s a chance to position your company within the trajectory of the government’s expanding defense priorities. Vice Adm. Skillman’s address will offer an unparalleled deep dive into the Navy’s direction, which is vital for contractors seeking to align their business efforts with the DOD.
Skillman’s unique combination of operational expertise, technological acumen and financial stewardship ensures that his keynote will deliver tangible value. It’s an exclusive chance to hear directly from one of the Navy’s foremost leaders, who understands both the challenges and opportunities awaiting the defense community.
Defense GovCons attending the 2025 Navy Summit can also attend actionable keynotes featuring other leading naval officials, including:
- Jane Rathbun, Navy chief information officer and two-time Wash100 Award winner
- Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare, N2N6. and director of naval intelligence
- Capt. Joel Uzarski, NavalX director
Attendees will be the first to learn about new requirements on emerging technologies at fascinating panel discussions, such as:
- Optimizing Navy Decision-Making with GenAI: Balancing Human Insight with AI Precision
- Opportunities and Challenges in Delivering UXV to the Navy
- Accelerating Naval Capabilities: Partnering with Industry for Speed to Fleet
- And many more!
Use this rare opportunity to learn directly from leaders like Vice Adm. Skillman at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit. Save the date—August 26—and give your GovCon business a competitive edge in the naval defense arena. Register now for this event specifically curated for GovCon technology professionals and prepare for higher revenues in FY 2026.
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