Bret Batchelder

Bret previously served as Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Lead Executive for Pacific Theater Government Relations, specializing in maritime capabilities across all domains. In this role, he cultivated strategic relationships with senior military leaders, industry executives, and allied partners to align operational requirements with emerging technologies and investment strategies. 
 
Bret retired as a Rear Admiral after 35 years of distinguished service as a Naval Aviator in the United States Navy. He commanded operational units at the squadron, carrier air wing, and carrier strike group levels and held numerous senior leadership positions throughout the Department of the Navy and Joint Staff. 
 
His final active-duty assignment was Director of Maritime Operations at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, where he led efforts to operationalize Distributed Maritime Operations and Fleet Design concepts while employing more than 100 ships, 30 submarines, and 1,000 aircraft to maximize combat-ready naval forces worldwide. 
 
Previous flag assignments included Commander of Navy Warfare Development Command, Commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, and Commander of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command. He also held key positions in Navy financial management, personnel distribution, capability development, and acquisition strategy. 
 
Bret brings extensive experience in strategic planning, defense capability development, joint and allied military operations, executive leadership, government relations, and the integration of operational requirements with emerging technologies. His career has focused on helping organizations understand complex operational environments and making informed strategic investment decisions. 
 
Bret earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Salve Regina University. As a Naval Aviator, he accumulated more than 5,500 flight hours in Navy jet aircraft, including over 4,000 hours in the F/A-18 Hornet. He flew more than 100 combat missions and completed over 1,200 carrier-arrested landings.