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Donald Charles Winter (born June 15, 1948) is an American politician and businessman who served as
In 1982, Winter resigned from his DARPA appointment early and returned to TRW, where he held senior systems engineering and program management responsibilities for a variety of space system programs for the next eight years. From 1990 through 1997, as vice president and general manager of the defense systems division of TRW's Space & Electronics (S&E) business, Winter directed space systems activities that supported the national defense effort.
Winter was president and CEO of TRW Systems from January 2000 until its acquisition by Northrop Grumman in December 2002. After the Northrop acquisition, Winter became head of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems until his nomination by President Bush to become the civilian head of the Department of the Navy. He was elected to member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2002.
He is currently Professor of Practice, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan.
In 2015, Winter was appointed to an expert advisory panel on Australia's Attack-class submarine, Future Submarine Program, overseeing the competitive evaluation of bidders. He was appointed chairman of Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board by the Turnbull Government in 2016. In March 2021, it was reported that he was working as a special advisor to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on shipbuilding.
Official Navy biography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winter, Donald C. 1948 births Living people United States Department of Defense officials United States Secretaries of the Navy American businesspeople University of Rochester alumni University of Michigan alumni George W. Bush administration personnel New York (state) Republicans Northrop Grumman people Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering
United States Secretary of the Navy
The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense.
By law, the se ...
. A former top executive of TRW, Aerospace & Defense, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
, confirmed by the United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006. In January 2009 Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is an American intelligence analyst and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was originally appointed by president George W. Bush a ...
requested that Winter remain in office until President Obama picked his successor on March 13, 2009. He resigned on March 13.
Life and career
Winter earned abachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
(with highest distinction) in physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
from the University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or U of Rochester) is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York. The university grants Undergraduate education, undergraduate and graduate degrees, including Doctorate, do ...
in 1969. He received a master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.
in 1970, and a doctorate in physics in 1972, from the University of Michigan.
He joined the aerospace technology company TRW Inc., TRW in 1972, and directed laser physics projects in Redondo Beach, California. By 1978, he was head of the optics department there.
In 1980, Winter received a three-year appointment to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), serving under Dr. Bob Cooper during the very early years of research into the Strategic Defense Initiative (Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI) proposed by President Ronald Reagan. Winter's main responsibility was for Talon Gold, an advanced acquisition, tracking, and pointing experiment in space. During that period, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.
In 1982, Winter resigned from his DARPA appointment early and returned to TRW, where he held senior systems engineering and program management responsibilities for a variety of space system programs for the next eight years. From 1990 through 1997, as vice president and general manager of the defense systems division of TRW's Space & Electronics (S&E) business, Winter directed space systems activities that supported the national defense effort.
Winter was president and CEO of TRW Systems from January 2000 until its acquisition by Northrop Grumman in December 2002. After the Northrop acquisition, Winter became head of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems until his nomination by President Bush to become the civilian head of the Department of the Navy. He was elected to member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2002.
He is currently Professor of Practice, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan.
In 2015, Winter was appointed to an expert advisory panel on Australia's Attack-class submarine, Future Submarine Program, overseeing the competitive evaluation of bidders. He was appointed chairman of Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board by the Turnbull Government in 2016. In March 2021, it was reported that he was working as a special advisor to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on shipbuilding.
References
External links
Official Navy biography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winter, Donald C. 1948 births Living people United States Department of Defense officials United States Secretaries of the Navy American businesspeople University of Rochester alumni University of Michigan alumni George W. Bush administration personnel New York (state) Republicans Northrop Grumman people Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering