Charles F. Nava is the Technical Director and Director of Engineering for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He directs selected studies, developments and fielding activities tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office has been responsible for development and deployment of disruptive capabilities including the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System, the Common Mission Control Center the launch and experimental operations of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and the B-21 Raider. Mr. Nava is responsible for formulating, developing, technical integration, testing of Department of Defense advanced classified activities and for the representation of these activities to the Department of the Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Congress and the White House.
Mr. Nava is a nationally recognized authority providing advice and guidance to the highest Air Force and government officials on open architectures, system-of-systems interoperability, low observables, counter low observables, electronic warfare as they apply to military aerospace systems, their related test and analysis infrastructure and their performance in combat operations. Mr. Nava serves on high-level agency, interagency, national, international committees and working groups, such as the Defense Science Board, Air Force Science Advisory Board, Joint Services committees, and other DoD assemblies. Additionally, Mr. Nava participates within the international scientific and engineering community, providing engineering advice and guidance on breakthroughs in state-of-the-art technologies on cross-domain interoperability.
Prior to the senior service, Mr. Nava held various positions within Naval Air Warfare Centers and the Naval Air Systems Command. He served as an engineer for the A-6E/F, F-14D, H-1 N, EA-6B, F/A-18E/F/G, JSF and the Pioneer, Fire Scout and Global Hawk Maritime unmanned systems. In 2003, he was selected as the Assistant Program Executive Officer for Acquisition and guided the acquisition and sustainability for more than 10 Naval Program Management Air offices. Furthermore, Mr. Nava spent two years as Communications and Networking Program Manager guiding the design and development of the future Naval Advanced Tactical Communication and Networking Systems. Mr. Nava led the formation and evolution of the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office (PMA-268) and served as the Program Manager for the UCAV, X-47B, UCLASS, and the common carrier base Unmanned Mission Control System. In addition to his 25 years of government service, Mr. Nava has more than 10 years of direct industry experience working in the defense industrial base. His industry experience centered on the development of advanced air and surface platforms, EW systems, and kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities. Additionally, Mr. Nava has served his local communities as an active member of numerous volunteer fire companies rising to the rank of fire chief, and is a nationally certified Emergency Services Instructor, Firefighter and Fire Officer.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1985–1986, Engineering Co-Op, General Electric Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y.
2. 1986–1988, Electronics Engineer, Grumman Corporation, Bethpage, N.Y.
3. 1988–1990, Electrical Engineer, General Dynamics Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas
4. 1990–1995, Senior Staff Engineer, Veda Incorporated, Warminster, Pa.
5. 1995–1996, Electronics Systems Engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, Pa.
6. 1996–1997, Aerospace Engineer, Naval Air Systems Command, Crystal City, Va.
7. 1997–1999, Aerospace Engineer, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.
8. 1999–2001, Systems Engineer, Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Md.
9. 2001–2003, Systems Engineer, Global Hawk Maritime System, Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Md.
10. 2003–2004, Assistant Acquisition Executive, APEO (AQ), Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.
11. 2004–2006, Program Manager, PMA-209, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.
12. 2006–2010, Systems Engineer, UCAS Advanced Development Program Office, PEO(U&W), Patuxent River, Md.
13. 2010–2015, Program Manager, Unmanned Carrier Aviation Advanced Development Program Office, PEO (U&W), Patuxent River, Md.
14. 2015–present, Technical Director, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2022 Presidential Rank Award
U.S. Navy Superior Civilian Service Award
PROFESSIONA MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Senior Member Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institution of Fire Engineers
Association of Old Crows
(Current as of August 2023)