Paul E. Speer, Ph.D.

Paul E. Speer, Ph.D. is president of CNA's Center for Naval Analyses, a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that pioneered the field of operations analysis in support of the U.S. Navy during World War II. As president, he serves as the scientific analyst to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Speer began his 25-year career at CNA working on a wide range of issues for the Navy’s submarine force that included a field tour at Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 12, New London, CT. His work on submarine force as an issues analyst and project director for the Anti-submarine Warfare Department culminated in 1991 and 1992 with studies supporting the Early Operational Assessment for the SSN-21, the first Seawolf Class attack submarine. He was also involved with the development of Operational Testing Measures of Effectiveness for the SSN- 21.

Subsequent to his submarine analysis work, Speer served as the full-time CNA Scientific Analyst for the Director, Navy Programming Division (N80).

In 2003, Speer moved to CNA’s Institute for Public Research, where he pioneered new research programs in public safety, emergency public health, and eventually homeland security.

Speer earned a PhD in Oceanography from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA; and a bachelor’s degree in Geology and Geophysics from Williams College, Williamstown, MA.