Mr. McNamara leads VT-ARC's executive management team and sets the goals and strategy for this not-for profit University Affiliated Research Corporation. He oversees the Corporation's operations and reports to the Corporation's Board of Directors.

Mr McNamara retired as a principal professional staff member after 25 years with The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland. While at JHU/APL he managed the National Security Capabilities Program Area in the National Security Analysis Department, and held previous positions as a Program Manager, Project Engineer, System Engineer, and Sensor Systems Engineer. His expertise spans undersea technology, command, control, communications, and networking and strategic systems. He is an alumnus of MIT’s Seminar XXI Program. Prior to the program area manager’s position, Mr. McNamara was head of the Strategic Posture Office of APL.

Mr. McNamara is a native of Florida, and 1976 graduate of Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He subsequently was employed by the David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center. His background includes expertise in undersea warfare, autonomous unmanned vehicles and systems, advanced R&D, DoD acquisition, systems engineering, information technology, and command and control. His contributions at JHU/APL were interrupted for a period of five years when Mr. McNamara moved to commercial industry and pursued business opportunities overseas.

Mr. McNamara received his Masters of Science degree in Technical Management in 1995 from the Johns Hopkins University. He has received several Navy acquisition awards. He has also served on a variety of technical panels, published technical papers, and presented at numerous symposia and technical meetings.

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