Navy appoints Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker to lead PAE Maritime

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao appointed Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker to lead Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime (PAE Maritime), succeeding Chris Miller as chief of the office. The Navy announced the appointment today. Rucker will lead surface ship acquisition efforts across the shipbuilding enterprise, overseeing carriers, combatants and auxiliary vessels. PAE Maritime was one of five PAE organizations stood up by the Navy in March under a wider acquisition reform initiative. Its programs include the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) effort, which last week awarded Hanwha Defense USA a $269 million contract to construct a new vessel. Rucker previously served as director of design and construction for Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager Submarines since April and before that as Program Executive Officer for Attack Submarines. On Oct. 13, Cao appointed Miller to serve concurrently as PAE and Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems.