DoD Names Head of Major Ship Acquisition Program

Tom Anderson

Rear Adm. Tom Anderson has been designated to serve as program executive officer, ships, where he will lead one of the Department of Defense’s largest acquisition organizations. Tasked with Navy shipbuilding, Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships) is one of six program executive offices operationally supported by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and reports to the assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development and acquisition) for acquisition-related matters. Overseeing many program offices, PEO Ships plays an integral role in the research, development, procurement and execution of various ships, including surface combatants, amphibious ships and support craft.

From May 2019 until he was relieved from command on April 24 by Rear Adm. Eric Ver Hage, Anderson served as commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center, a NAVSEA command field activity tasked with ship maintenance and modernization. Some of Anderson’s prior assignments include commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center; executive assistant to the commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; program manager, Littoral Combat Ships Program; Littoral Combat Ships production officer, PEO Ships; and senior staff engineer, U.S. Central Command.

Anderson graduated from Boston University in 1990 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and earned a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1999. He will replace current PEO Rear Adm. William Galinis during a change of command ceremony scheduled on May 22.