National Officers

ADM Arleigh Burke, USN (Ret): Honorary Chairman 1987-1996

ADM J.R. Hogg, USN (Ret): Chairman of the Board

VADM Ronald Route, USN (Ret): President
A Surface Warfare Officer with over 36 years on active duty, 15 of which  accrued on sea duty in cruisers, destroyers and carrier battle group staffs, including command of the cruiser LAKE ERIE and the guided-missile destroyer DEWEY.  He commanded the GEORGE WASHINGTON Carrier Strike Group, the Navy Warfare Development Command, and served as President of the Naval War College.  His six tours in Washington, DC included flag assignments as the Naval Inspector General and twice on the OPNAV Staff, once as Director, Navy Programming (N80) and earlier as Director, Political-Military Affairs (N52). 

VADM Timothy LaFleur, USN (Ret): Vice President - West Coast
Vice Admiral LaFleur has been with Booz Allen Hamilton since 2005.  Vice Admiral LaFleur spent almost 35 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Vice Admiral in March 2005.  During his time in the U.S. Navy he served as the community leader for the Surface Navy for nearly 4 years.  While ensuring the current readiness of the Surface Navy, he was also charting its future course through transformational efforts aimed at enhancing the ability of the force to fight and win.  He also served concurrently as the Pacific Fleet Surface Force Type Commander.  In that capacity, he provided properly manned, trained, equipped, and combat-ready warships and special combat support forces to operational commanders throughout the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Gulf areas of operation. Vice Admiral LaFleur received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and his M.S. in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1981.

VADM Hank Giffin, USN (Ret): Vice President - East Coast
 
CAPT Jim Tackett, USN (Ret): Treasurer
Captain Tackett received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina and was commissioned via the University’s ROTC program in 1971. His initial tour of duty was onboard USS GALLUP (PG-85) followed by tours in STERRETT, WADDELL, DESRON –15, DEYO and as Commanding Officer of USS FAHRION. He received his Masters Degree in Finance from the Naval Post Graduate School in 1981.

Captain Tackett has twice served on the OPNAV Staff, first within the Surface Warfare Office for Plans and Budget and following his command at sea tour, as Director of Ship Self Defense. He has served in 2 significant shore assignments in NAVSEA, first as the Deputy Program Manager for Cooperative Engagement (CEC) followed by assignment as Program Management for the NATO SeaSparrow Program.  

Since retirement in 1999, Captain Tackett has been a senior manager for BAE Systems serving on the staff of the Italian Ministry of Defense in Rome, Italy and currently as Director of Technical Operations for the Surface Warfare Directorate. 

Captain Tackett resides in Rockville, Md and is a lifetime member of SNA.

CAPT David Lee, USN (Ret): Secretary
 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 BOD terms end at the SNA National Symposium on the year listed.

VADM Kevin P. Green,  USN (Ret) – Immediate Past President