Donald C. Winter

Donald Charles Winter (born June 15, 1948)[1] is an American politician and businessman who served as United States Secretary of the Navy.[2] A former top executive of TRW, Aerospace & Defense, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006. In January 2009 Defense Secretary Robert Gates requested that Winter remain in office until President Obama picked his successor on March 13, 2009.[3] He resigned on March 13.[4]

Donald Winter
Official portrait, 2006
74th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office
January 3, 2006 – March 13, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byGordon R. England
Succeeded byRay Mabus
Personal details
Born
Donald Charles Winter

(1948-06-15) June 15, 1948
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLinda
EducationUniversity of Rochester (BS)
University of Michigan (MS, PhD)

Life and career

Winter earned a bachelor's degree (with highest distinction) in physics from the University of Rochester in 1969. He received a master's degree in 1970, and a doctorate in physics in 1972, from the University of Michigan.

He joined the aerospace technology company TRW in 1972, and directed laser physics projects in Redondo Beach, California. By 1978, he was head of the optics department there.

In 1980, Winter received a three-year appointment to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), serving under Dr. Bob Cooper during the very early years of research into the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) proposed by President Ronald Reagan. Winter's main responsibility was for Talon Gold, an advanced acquisition, tracking, and pointing experiment in space. During that period, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.

Winter sworn in as Secretary of the Navy, January 2006.
Donald Winter with then-CNO Admiral Michael Mullen and then-MCPON Terry D. Scott

In 1982, Winter resigned from his DARPA appointment early and returned to TRW, where he held senior systems engineering and program management responsibilities for a variety of space system programs for the next eight years. From 1990 through 1997, as vice president and general manager of the defense systems division of TRW's Space & Electronics (S&E) business, Winter directed space systems activities that supported the national defense effort.

Winter was president and CEO of TRW Systems[5] from January 2000 until its acquisition by Northrop Grumman in December 2002. After the Northrop acquisition, Winter became head of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems[6] until his nomination by President Bush to become the civilian head of the Department of the Navy. He was elected to member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2002.[7]

He is currently Professor of Practice, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan.[8]

In 2015, Winter was appointed to an expert advisory panel on Australia's Future Submarine Program, overseeing the competitive evaluation of bidders.[9] He was appointed chairman of Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board by the Turnbull government in 2016.[10] In March 2021, it was reported that he was working as a special advisor to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on shipbuilding.[11]

References
  1. "- S. HRG. 109-847 NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, FIRST SESSION, 109TH CONGRESS".
  2. "Modern Biographical Files in the Navy Department Library - Donald Charles Winter".
  3. "Secretary of the Navy to stay for a while". UPI. January 14, 2009. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009. (Archived by WebCite)
  4. "Navy Secretary Departs Office". United States Department of Defense. March 13, 2009. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  5. "Washington Post Politics - Don C Winter". The Washington Post.
  6. "Northrop Grumman Names Donald C. Winter Lead Executive For Missile Defense Business".
  7. "NAE members 2002".
  8. "Don C. Winter, Faculty Directory, University of Michigan".
  9. "Former US navy secretary appointed to panel to oversee future submarine 'competitive evaluation'". ABC News. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. "Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board members appointed". Defence Connect. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  11. Greene, Andrew (22 March 2021). "Shake-up of naval shipbuilding as concerns grow over future submarines, frigates". ABC News. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
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