RADM Fred W. Kacher has deployed multiple times at sea and commanded Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN, Destroyer Squadron SEVEN, and USS Stockdale (DDD 106). An author of numerous articles on naval affairs and recipient of the Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership and the U.S. Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership, he has also served ashore at the White House and the Pentagon. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Harvard’s Kennedy School, he is also the author of the Newly Commissioned Naval Officer’s Guide, 2nd edition, and co-author of the Naval Officer’s Guide to the Pentagon.

CAPT Joseph A. Gagliano is a surface warfare officer, naval strategist, and politico-military specialist. At sea, he has served as the commander of Task Force 65,
commodore of Destroyer Squadron 60, commanding officer and executive officer in USS Independence (LCS 2), and combat systems officer and weapons officer in USS Cole (DDG 67). Ashore, he has served as the director for defense policy and strategy for the National Security Council at the White House, a strategist on the Joint Staff in the Asia political-military affairs directorate, and the strategic planning team leader for OPNAV N00X. Captain Gagliano holds a PhD and a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is also the author of Shiphandling Fundamentals for Littoral Combat Ships and the New Frigates.

CDR Samantha A. O’Neil is a surface warfare officer who served at sea as a division officer in USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and as the chief engineer in USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), where she was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award. Ashore, she served as a company officer at the United States Naval Academy and as a staff member in the Commander’s Action Group at Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific. As a Navy reserve officer, she served as executive officer of the Navy Reserve Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific Headquarters unit and executive officer of the Navy Reserve Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center headquarters unit. She is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the University of Maryland, and the U.S. Naval War College.