Media Center

Christie Vilsack

Ship's Sponsor

Christie Vilsack recently retired after a 50-year career in education and public service. Most recently she served as Education Advisor to the Chancellor of Colorado State University. From 2013 through 2016 she served the Obama Administration as the Senior Advisor for International Education at USAID.

For 25 years, she taught middle school and college English and journalism. Her experience inside the classroom led to a focus on education and advocating for public libraries as Iowa’s First Lady, as a candidate for Congress in Iowa and as an education adviser for colleges, universities and USAID.

Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Christie is a graduate and charter class member of Kirkland College in Clinton, New York. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from The University of Iowa. She and husband Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack live in rural Iowa. They have two married sons and six grandchildren. They have enjoyed a lifetime of public service together and continue to support efforts to improve domestic and international education, agriculture and rural development.

Kevin Graney

President, General Dynamics Electric Boat

Kevin Graney became president of General Dynamics Electric Boat in October 2019.

Graney began his shipbuilding career with Electric Boat in 1995, as a senior engineer, working on the high-speed turbine generator set for the Virginia-class submarine. He was then assigned as a fluid systems supervisor, working with Newport News Shipbuilding to design the reactor plant fluid systems of the next-generation aircraft carrier—the CVN 78 program. He later managed a team of Electric Boat designers and engineers in the development of fluid systems for the British Astute-class submarine program. After working on the British submarine program, he became the program manager of capital projects and metrics in the Virginia-class submarine program office.

Graney joined General Dynamics NASSCO in January 2006 as director of quality assurance and was promoted to vice president of engineering in July 2007. In 2010, Graney assumed the post of vice president of Programs and in January 2013 was promoted to vice president of Operations. In November 2013, Graney was named vice president and general manager. In January 2017, Graney became president of General Dynamics NASSCO and a vice president of the General Dynamics Corporation.

Graney was born in Cheektowaga, New York, in January 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering and nuclear science from the State University of New York Maritime College in 1986. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a naval officer and served aboard submarines and as an instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa in New York. Graney currently lives in Stonington, Connecticut, and is married to Cheryl Kidd Graney from Colchester, Connecticut. Together they have a daughter, Katherine.

Under Secretary of the Navy

Keynote Speaker

Erik K. Raven assumed the responsibilities of the Under Secretary of the Navy on April 13, 2022. He serves as the Department of Navy's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer. He is responsible for providing oversight and policy for defense and naval strategy, intelligence and intelligence-related activities, sensitive activities, special access programs, space activities, critical infrastructure, small business programs and the naval audit service. Additionally, he is responsible for business operations, performance management and risk management within the Department.

Before his nomination, Mr. Raven was the principal advisor to the Democratic Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Defense on budget matters relating to the Department of Defense and intelligence community.

Mr. Raven holds a master's degree in the history of international relations from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Connecticut College.

CDR Matt Powell

Commanding Officer, PCU Iowa (SSN 797)

CDR Powell is from Conyers, GA. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech in 2003 and was commissioned on October 10, 2003, from Naval Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL.

CDR Powell’s first sea tour was on the USS Rhode Island (BLUE) (SSBN 740B) in Kings Bay, GA. During this junior officer tour, he qualified in submarines and completed five strategic deterrent patrols. For his second sea tour, CDR Powell served as the Weapons Officer on USS Norfolk (SSN 714), where he completed two deployments to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

CDR Powell reported to USS Virginia (SSN 774) as the Executive Officer in December 2016. Virginia completed one deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility and conducted a change of homeport to Kittery, ME.

Shore tours for CDR Powell included serving as a planner at Joint Functional Component Command Global Strike at United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM), a Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team Department Head for Commander Submarine Forces Atlantic and Speech Writer for the Director of Undersea Warfare in Washington, D.C.

CDR Powell received a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University and is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

In February 2022, CDR Powell took command of PCU Iowa (SSN 797) in Groton, CT.

CDR Powell is a proud father to three wonderful children: Caleb, Mason and Grace.

The crews CDR Powell has served with collectively earned two unit awards, three Battle “E’s” and the Atlantic Fleet’s Arleigh Burke Trophy. His personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal with one OLC and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one star.

LCDR Kevin P. R. O'Malley

Executive Officer, PCU Iowa (SSN 797)

Lieutenant Commander Kevin O’Malley is a native of Elmhurst, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and creative writing. After commissioning from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and completion of nuclear training, he reported aboard the USS Louisiana (SSBN 743).

While aboard Louisiana, he served as Reactor Control Assistant and Assistant Engineer for five strategic deterrent patrols and the ship earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

After completion of a Master of Science degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and Submarine Officer’s Advanced Course, LCDR O’Malley reported aboard USS Missouri (SSN 780) as Engineer Officer. During his tour, Missouri completed a European Command deployment and a homeport shift from Groton, CT, to Pearl Harbor, HI. During his time, the ship was awarded a Navy Unit Citation for deployment operations and awarded the first shipyard Battle ‘E’ Efficiency Award.

LCDR O’Malley then reported to Commander, Submarine Squadron ONE, where he served as Squadron Engineer. The tour included service as the Engineer Officer on the USS North Carolina (SSN 777).

LCDR O’Malley is married to the former Stephanie Fleshman of Ottawa, Illinois. They live in Groton, CT, and are the proud parents of Grace and Clare.

LCDR O’Malley’s personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars.

ETVCM(SS) Dexter Buckley

Chief of the Boat, PCU Iowa (SSN 797)

Master Chief Dexter C. Buckley, a native of Hope, Arkansas, enlisted in the United States Navy through the delayed entry program in March 2004 and reported to basic training in Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in November 2004. Following completion of basic training, he reported to Groton, Connecticut, and completed Basic Enlisted Submarine School, the Submarine Electronics Computer Field pipeline and Navigation Electronics Technician “A” School.

After completing his training, Master Chief Buckley reported to the USS Olympia (SSN 717) in January 2006. While attached to Olympia, he completed two Western Pacific Deployments. In January 2011, Master Chief Buckley transferred to his first shore tour, Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, where he trained eight Recruit Divisions and served as a Fleet Quality Assurance Inspector.

Master Chief Buckley returned to sea duty in August 2014 as the Assistant Navigator aboard the USS Columbus (SSN 762), where he completed one SOUTHCOM Deployment and one Western Pacific Deployment. In January of 2019, he transferred to the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he served as the Force Assistant Navigator and Combat Readiness Team’s Navigation Evaluator.

Master Chief Buckley is currently serving as the Chief of the Boat (COB) on-board PCU Iowa (SSN 797).

His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards) and various unit and campaign awards.