Press Release
Dave Johnson and Peter Neffenger Join CNA's Board of Trustees
CNA President and CEO Katherine McGrady today announced that Vice Admiral David Johnson, USN (Ret.), and Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, USCG (Ret.), are joining the CNA Board of Trustees. Vice Adm. Johnson is the Vice President of Strategy for the Integrated Mission Systems segment of L3 Technologies. Vice Adm. Neffenger chairs the U.S. Board of Directors for Smartmatic.
"We are very pleased to welcome Vice Admiral Johnson and Vice Admiral Neffenger,” said Ambassador Maura Harty, the chair of the board. “Combined, they have served our nation for 70 years in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and I know this experience will prove invaluable to CNA.”
Both men have had illustrious careers in service to our nation. VADM Johnson completed a distinguished, 36-year career in the U.S. Navy. Most recently, he served as the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, where he had responsibility for all Navy and Marine Corps programs and development for maritime, ground, aviation, space and C4I systems.
VADM Neffenger was appointed in 2015 by President Obama to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a position he held until January 2017. Prior to this, he distinguished himself in a 34-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served as the 29th Vice Commandant and head of Coast Guard global operations. He was also the Deputy National Incident Commander for the 2010 BP Gulf oil spill, the largest and most complex in U.S. history.
“We are very fortunate to have both Vice Admiral Johnson and Vice Admiral Neffenger,” McGrady said. “Their distinguished careers bring a perspective to the board that supports CNA’s dedication to doing work that supports the safety and security of the nation.’”
VADM Johnson holds a naval engineering degree and a master’s in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also has received various personal and campaign awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal with one gold star.
VADM Neffenger holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, a Master’s in Business Management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor’s from Baldwin Wallace University. He is a two-time recipient of the Department of Homeland Security’s Distinguished Service Medal and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and an instructor in Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.
CNA is a nonprofit research and analysis organization dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. It operates the Center for Naval Analyses—the federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) of the Department of the Navy—as well as the Institute for Public Research. CNA develops actionable solutions to complex problems of national importance. With nearly 700 scientists, analysts, and professional staff, CNA takes a real-world approach to gathering data. Its unique Field Program places analysts on aircraft carriers and military bases, in squad rooms and crisis centers, working side by side with operators and decision-makers around the world. CNA supports naval operations, fleet readiness, and strategic competition. Its non-defense research portfolio includes criminal justice, homeland security, and data management.
Note to writers and editors: CNA is not an acronym and is correctly referenced as "CNA, a research organization in Arlington, VA."