Ms. Jill Boward currently serves as the Executive Director, Combatants, Program Executive Office, Ships where she provides executive leadership for more than 200 personnel in complex, new construction shipbuilding programs defining the 21st century surface combatant fleet. Ms. Boward oversees more than $59 billion in procurements with responsibilities that span multiple major program offices: the DDG 51 program (PMS 400D), the DDG 1000 program (PMS 500), and the DDG(X) program (PMS 460). Ms. Boward has served over 34 years as a civilian in the Department of Defense and entered the Senior Executive Service in September 2015.
In her previous role as the Executive Director, Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) from 2019 to 2021, Ms. Boward directed the acquisition and fleet support of the Surface Navy’s 155 combat systems, weapons, radars, and related international and foreign military sales programs. Ms. Boward was responsible for an organization of over 400 civilian and military personnel and 128 programs and projects with an annual acquisition budget of $6 billion.
From 2011 to 2015, Ms. Boward served as Director for Amphibious and Auxiliary Ship Programs for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Ships, supporting the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. She spent over 25 years with the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Cost Engineering and Industrial Analysis Group in various capacities, to include Director from 2015 to 2019; Deputy Director from 2007 to 2011; Industrial Planning and Analysis Division Director from 2002 to 2006; and as the Surface Combatants Division Director in 2002. She also served as a cost team leader and analyst supporting the DDG 51 program and as a cost analyst for various combat and weapons systems.
From 1991 to 1994, Ms. Boward worked as the staff engineer for the Contracts Management Division in the U.S. Army Garrison - Directorate of Engineering and Housing, Republic of Panama.
Ms. Boward was awarded the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in addition to numerous other recognitions and performance awards throughout her career. She earned both a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and a Master of Engineering Administration from Virginia Tech, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University.