Dr. Brett Seidle has served as a member of the Senior Executive Service for nearly 10 years and has extensive experience in the private sector.  He is performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, which he assumed April 16, 2025.   

The Under Secretary of the Navy serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer of the Department of the Navy (DON). Seidle 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.

Since January 2025 he has also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RD&A). Previously, he served as the Principal Civilian Deputy to ASN RD&A. In this role, he provides oversight and policy for Navy & Marine Corps research, development, and acquisition/sustainment programs for shipbuilding, aviation, space, weapon systems, and communication systems. The ASN RD&A portfolio includes oversight of more than 100,000 employees and governs the operation of the Department of Navy’s worldwide acquisition system with annual obligations in excess of $155 billion. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, Test and Engineering (DASN (RDT&E)) under ASN (RD&A), responsible for executive oversight of all matters related to RDT&E Budget Activities, Science and Engineering, Advanced Research and Development, Prototyping and Experimentation, and Test and Evaluation. He was also responsible for oversight and stewardship of the Department of Navy Research and Development Establishment, which includes the naval laboratories, warfare centers, the Office of Naval Research, the Naval Postgraduate School and five University Affiliated Research Centers.

He was formerly the Executive Director for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) and Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) with more than 29,000 employees.  The NAVSEA Warfare Centers represent approximately 30 percent of the Navy’s engineering and scientific expertise and is comprised of 10 echelon-four warfare center divisions and two echelon-five commands.  During his time at NAVSEA, Dr. Seidle was also detailed into the position of Executive Director for SEA 04 Industrial Operations in FY21-22, where he provided leadership and direction for the nation’s public and private shipyards in maintenance, modernization, and new construction, responsible for more than 37,000 employees.

Dr. Seidle was appointed as a member of the Senior Executive Service and named the Division Technical Director (TD) at NSWC Crane in October 2016 where he was responsible for an organization of 3,700 civilian employees focused on providing engineering and technical expertise to the nation’s warfighters.  He began his career in the public sector with NSWC Crane in 2000 and while there, was awarded a fellowship to pursue his PhD in Public Policy at Indiana University, which he completed in 2010.

A graduate of General Motors Institute, Dr. Seidle began his career in the private sector in 1983 working as an electrical engineer for General Motors. He was awarded a GM Fellowship to attend Stanford University, where he obtained his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. Upon his return to in 1992, he became Die Cast Manufacturing Manager of the GM Powertrain Bedford Facility.

In 1995, Dr. Seidle accepted a position with a joint venture between Alcoa and Cast Metals Industries, becoming Plant Manager of CMI-Precision Mold casting facility. In this role, he had full profit and loss responsibility for a facility with 700+ employees and $100 million in sales, managing it through the launch of the industry’s first all-aluminum cross-member subframe for Chrysler’s minivan. He subsequently became Plant Manager for Alcoa’s Kentucky Casting Center, responsible for the construction/design of the facility and organization from a brownfield site to full operational status.
 

Last Updated: 16 April 2025