Thomas Mancinelli joined the Department of Navy in July 2024 and currently serves as the Acting Under Secretary of the Navy. 

In this role, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer of the Department of the Navy. He is responsible for providing oversight and developing 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 of Navy.

From April 2022 through July 2024, Mr. Mancinelli served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, where he advised the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on all matters pertaining to the Department of Defense’s relations with Congress.

Mr. Mancinelli has served in a variety of senior leadership positions in the federal government. From 2015-2022, he was the National Security Advisor for Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. In that job, he led the Senator’s work on the Foreign Relations Committee, helped craft legislation, and advised the Senator on all National Security matters.  From 2012-2014, he was the Chief of Staff in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Mancinelli worked for former Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides and in the National Security Division of the Office of Management and Budget.

While serving in uniform as a Marine Officer, Mr. Mancinelli deployed twice to Iraq’s Anbar province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy, where he was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and a Master of International Affairs from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service.

He is the recipient of numerous civilian and military awards including the 2016 Ike Skelton Award for Public Service Leadership.

Last Updated: 20 August 2024