John S. Thackrah
Encyclopedia
John S. Thackrah was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
in 2007-2008.
(bachelor's degree
in Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering
) and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(M.B.A.).
In 1979, Thackrah joined United Technologies Corporation
's Pratt & Whitney
Division, where he worked in project and test engineering. He later worked in program management and model management and commercial flight test
activities. He then became president of a Pratt & Whitney joint venture
. He later went on to serve in a series of executive positions, culminating in Vice President of all Commercial Products. He then became Vice President of UTC's Otis Elevator Company
division, later returning to Pratt & Whitney as Vice President of Aftermarket Services, and later serving as vice president / general manager of one of its strategic business units.
On April 18, 2005, Thackrah was sworn in as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget of the United States Department of the Navy
. In this capacity, he was responsible for all the department's administrative matters, annual budget preparation, and human resource management, and served as chief of staff
for the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
, John J. Young, Jr.
and then Delores M. Etter
.
In 2007, President of the United States
George W. Bush
nominated Thackrah as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
and he subsequently held this office from November 16, 2007 until July 27, 2008. In that capacity, he was responsible for $50 billion annually of research, development and acquisition activities and over 100,000 people.
On December 8, 2008, he became Principal Deputy of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
in 2007-2008.
Biography
John S. Thackrah was educated at the University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
(bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Mechanical
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
) and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(M.B.A.).
In 1979, Thackrah joined United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in the United Technologies Building in Hartford, Connecticut...
's Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
Division, where he worked in project and test engineering. He later worked in program management and model management and commercial flight test
Flight test
Flight test is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops and gathers data during flight of an aircraft and then analyzes the data to evaluate the flight characteristics of the aircraft and validate its design, including safety aspects...
activities. He then became president of a Pratt & Whitney joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
. He later went on to serve in a series of executive positions, culminating in Vice President of all Commercial Products. He then became Vice President of UTC's Otis Elevator Company
Otis Elevator Company
The Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
division, later returning to Pratt & Whitney as Vice President of Aftermarket Services, and later serving as vice president / general manager of one of its strategic business units.
On April 18, 2005, Thackrah was sworn in as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget of the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
. In this capacity, he was responsible for all the department's administrative matters, annual budget preparation, and human resource management, and served as chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
for the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
, John J. Young, Jr.
John J. Young, Jr.
John Jacob Young, Jr. was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 2001 to 2005 and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from 2007 to 2009....
and then Delores M. Etter
Delores M. Etter
Delores Maria Etter was United States Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology from 1998 to 2001 and Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:Delores M...
.
In 2007, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Thackrah as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...
and he subsequently held this office from November 16, 2007 until July 27, 2008. In that capacity, he was responsible for $50 billion annually of research, development and acquisition activities and over 100,000 people.
On December 8, 2008, he became Principal Deputy of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs.