Gary A. Warner

Gary Warner serves as the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Ships, overseeing the acquisition and lifecycle management of naval surface and submarine platforms for the U.S. Navy. In this critical leadership role, he directs a portfolio of complex, high-priority defense programs involving the design, development, and fielding of advanced maritime systems. His responsibilities encompass end-to-end contract execution—from requirements definition through delivery and sustainment—ensuring naval warfighting capabilities align with strategic operational needs. Warner’s acquisitions are centered on integrated combat systems, propulsion, navigation, and mission-critical sensors, making him a pivotal figure in sustaining the Navy’s technological edge across the maritime domain. Warner’s procurement strategy relies on deep collaboration with prime defense contractors specializing in naval systems integration, including firms with proven expertise in shipbuilding, electronic warfare, and undersea technologies. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, his office maintains long-term partnerships with industry leaders capable of delivering highly engineered, mission-secure platforms under stringent military specifications. These relationships are characterized by rigorous performance oversight, risk mitigation, and continuous technical alignment between government requirements and industrial capacity. His contracting patterns show a consistent preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the scale, complexity, and national security sensitivity of naval ship programs. This approach prioritizes access to the broadest possible industrial base capable of meeting demanding performance, reliability, and interoperability standards, rather than socioeconomic set-aside mechanisms. Warner’s primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 334511, encompassing the manufacturing of advanced nautical and aeronautical systems, including radar, sonar, guidance systems, and integrated combat networks. His technical domain expertise centers on mission-critical electronics, sensor fusion, and command-and-control architectures essential to modern warships, underscoring his role in advancing the Navy’s digital and autonomous warfare capabilities.