Full Name
CDR CDR Philip Turner, USN (Ret.)
Job Title
Frontier AI Strike Team (FAST) Lead
Company
PAE Mission Systems
Speaker Bio
Phil Turner is a Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Mission Systems representative currently serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN (RD&A)) Frontier AI Strike Team (FAST).
He previously served as the Principal Assistant Program Manager (PAPM) for the Boundary Defense and Situational Awareness Solution (BD&SAS), where he led the fielding of a portfolio of cybersecurity capabilities to more than 30 ships to enable security of operational technology systems for the fleet. The BD&SAS team included 120 government civilian, military, and industry personnel across six warfare centers and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) Headquarters. This team recently completed the standup of Situational Awareness, Boundary Enforcement, and Response (SABER) as a program of record in August 2025.
Prior to that assignment, he served as the Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) Cyber Engineering Team Lead for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR) and Technical Director, Naval Telecommunications Station (NCTS) in Naples, Italy. Tasked by 10th Fleet, he was stationed at NCTS as senior Department of the Navy (DON) civilian at 300-person command. He provided systems engineering expertise to solve complex enterprise Cyber technology problems and support NAVEUR and 6th Fleet contingency responses to Ukraine and Israel conflicts. He was awarded a Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and Civilian Commendation Medal.
His previous assignments include a 27-year naval career as a surface warfare officer and engineering duty officer, including a year in Iraq supporting the US Marine Corps. Followed transition to industry, he spent eight years working for BAE Systems in the defense sector. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in history from the U.S Naval Academy and a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, including completion of Joint Professional Military Education and a Level III certified in Program Management and Systems Engineering. He also graduated from the Navy Advanced Management Program and is an acquisition workforce member.
He previously served as the Principal Assistant Program Manager (PAPM) for the Boundary Defense and Situational Awareness Solution (BD&SAS), where he led the fielding of a portfolio of cybersecurity capabilities to more than 30 ships to enable security of operational technology systems for the fleet. The BD&SAS team included 120 government civilian, military, and industry personnel across six warfare centers and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) Headquarters. This team recently completed the standup of Situational Awareness, Boundary Enforcement, and Response (SABER) as a program of record in August 2025.
Prior to that assignment, he served as the Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) Cyber Engineering Team Lead for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR) and Technical Director, Naval Telecommunications Station (NCTS) in Naples, Italy. Tasked by 10th Fleet, he was stationed at NCTS as senior Department of the Navy (DON) civilian at 300-person command. He provided systems engineering expertise to solve complex enterprise Cyber technology problems and support NAVEUR and 6th Fleet contingency responses to Ukraine and Israel conflicts. He was awarded a Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and Civilian Commendation Medal.
His previous assignments include a 27-year naval career as a surface warfare officer and engineering duty officer, including a year in Iraq supporting the US Marine Corps. Followed transition to industry, he spent eight years working for BAE Systems in the defense sector. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in history from the U.S Naval Academy and a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, including completion of Joint Professional Military Education and a Level III certified in Program Management and Systems Engineering. He also graduated from the Navy Advanced Management Program and is an acquisition workforce member.
Speaking At
