July 20, 2016
WASHINGTON - Rear Adm. William J. Galinis relieved Rear Adm. David Gale to take the lead of Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, July 20.
Gale has led PEO Ships since June 2014, with responsibility for Navy shipbuilding for surface combatants, amphibious ships, logistics support ships, support craft, and related foreign military sales. During his tenure, he oversaw the delivery of 10 ships to the Fleet and more than 75 boats and craft.
Galinis comes to PEO Ships with 33-years of experience at sea and ashore. Galinis' tours as a surface warfare officer included damage control assistant aboard USS Vreeland (FF 1068) and engineer officer aboard USS Roark (FF 1053).
Galinis has served in a number of waterfront, program and staff positions as an engineering duty officer, including tours with the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, New Orleans, the Board of Inspection and Survey, the DD 21 and LPD 17 Program Offices, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N81) and in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Shipbuilding as the chief of staff.
His command assignments included LPD 17 program manager, supervisor of shipbuilding, Gulf Coast, and as the commanding officer of the Norfolk Ship Support Activity (NSSA) where he led ship maintenance and repair efforts.
Galinis' first flag assignment was deputy commander for surface warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA 21) /commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center, responsible for managing critical modernization, maintenance, training, Foreign Military support contracts and inactivation programs.
Gale, a native of Lebanon, New York, enlisted in the Navy in 1976. After service aboard USS Dupont (DD 941), he was selected for the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training and was commissioned in May 1983. Gale's at sea assignments include auxiliaries officer in the pre-commissioning crew of the USS Rentz (FFG 46), engineer officer in the pre-commissioning crew of USS Chosin (CG 65), and executive officer on USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51). He was the first commanding officer of the USS Mason (DDG 87).
He was the Major Program manager for Fleet Introduction and Surface Combatant Lifetime Support (400F) in the Program Executive Office, Ships; the military assistant to the undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and the acting executive director to NAVSEA 21.
After selection to Flag rank in April 2010, Gale assumed duties as commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Command and later as the deputy commander for Surface Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA 21).
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.