Mr. Thomas Rivers has been in federal service for more than 39 years and entered the Senior Executive Service in September 2020. He is currently Executive Director, Amphibious, Auxiliary and Sealift, Program Executive Office, Ships and the Navy’s National Co-Lead for the Program Management Competency domain.
As Executive Director for Amphibious, Auxiliary and Sealift programs within Program Executive Office, Ships, he provides executive leadership to more than 200 personnel and oversees one of the broadest acquisition portfolios in the Navy, including more than $40 billion in complex shipbuilding procurements. His responsibilities comprise five major program offices: U.S. Navy & Foreign Military Sales Boats and Craft Program Office (PMS 300), the Amphibious Assault & Connectors Program Office (PMS 317), the Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office (PMS 325), the Amphibious Warfare Program Office (PMS 377), and the Strategic and Theater Sealift Program (PMS 385). Active major programs included the LHA(R), LPD 17, EPF, ESB, T-AO 205, T-AGOS 25 and AS(X) ship classes, as well as Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), Landing Craft, Utility (LCU), various research/special mission platforms, and service craft/boats. His duties also include providing executive leadership over Navy efforts supporting USCG and NOAA shipbuilding programs.
Mr. Rivers has served in a variety of key leadership positions throughout his career, including Major Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager within the Amphibious Warfare Program Office (PMS 377) in PEO Ships. During his tenure (2009-2020), his portfolio included two multi-billion DoD Major Defense Acquisition Programs, LHA(R) and SSC. He led these programs and an ACAT III program through pre-award acquisition milestones, source selection, detail design, construction, testing and delivery. In addition, he executes life cycle sustainment and modernization programs for the Navy’s fleet of 104 landing craft. Before leading PMS 377, he was the Principal Assistant Program Manager and Life Cycle Manager for landing craft (2003-2009). Assignments prior to 2003 include the Director of Production (1998-2002) and the Hull Systems Engineer for the LPD 17 Class (1994-1998), an Affordability Through Commonality R&D manager (1992-1995), and a hull structures engineer. Mr. Rivers began his career at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
Mr. Rivers is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community and holds Advanced tier certification in the Program Management functional area and Practitioner tier certification in the Engineering & Technical Management functional area. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Maryland.