Gordon R. England is chair of the board of PFP Cybersecurity and a partner of Dyno-Tech, LLC. Previously, he served as deputy secretary of defense (2005–09) and, as secretary of the Navy (2001–06), was credited with developing successful surge plans for America’s fleet, strengthening the ties between the Navy and Coast Guard, and increasing assistance to the US Marines on the front lines in Iraq. He was the first deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (2003).

Mr. England’s business career spanned over 40 years as an engineer and senior executive, largely at General Dynamics, where he was executive vice president of the Information Systems and Technology Sector (1997–2001); president of the GD Fort Worth Aircraft Company (later Lockheed) (1991–95), responsible for all domestic and international aircraft programs, including the F-16 fighter; president (1990–91) and vice president, engineering (1986–90), of GD Land Systems Company; and director of avionics of the Fort Worth Company (1980–86). He began his career at Honeywell, where he was an engineer on the Project Gemini space program.

Mr. England was elected to the NAE in 2012 for advances in digital avionics for aircraft, land, and naval platforms. He cochaired the Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable and served on the NAE Aerospace Engineering Peer Committee, organizing committee for the Workshop on Trends in the Innovation Ecosystem: Can Past Successes Help Inform Future Strategies?, Committee on Talent: Assessing and Meeting National Workforce Needs, and Committee on Fault Isolation.

He has been active in a variety of civic, charitable, and government organizations, including serving as a city councilman. He chairs the board of the US Naval Institute Foundation, serves on the boards of the Community Learning Center and Glilot Capital Partners, advisory council of Business Executives for National Security, and University of Maryland trustees board, and is an honorary trustee on the board of directors of the National Museum of the Pacific War. He is vice president of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Science of Texas. He served on the USO board of governors, DOD Defense Science Board, MERRA—Michigan R&D Cooperative (chair), Michigan Chapter of ADPA (president), Defense Manufacturing Board on Concurrent Engineering, Engineering Board of Advisors of the Universities of Texas and Michigan and Oakland University, board of Goodwill (vice chair), and CACI board of directors.

Mr. England has been recognized for numerous professional and service contributions, with an honorary doctor of science, Oakland University (2003), IEEE Centennial Award, Commander Cross–Republic of Poland, Silver Knight of Management Award from the National Management Association, DOD Distinguished Public Service Award, Henry M. Jackson Award, NIDA Dwight Eisenhower Award, USCG Distinguished Public Service Award, Navy League David M. Thompson Award, Naval Order of US Admiral George Dewey Award, 2005 Charles Francis Adams Award, Department of VA Exceptional Service Award, Armed Forces Foundation Award, Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award Silver Beaver, Union League Lincoln Award, Goodwill Industries Person of the Year, and USO Distinguished Citizen Award. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (business), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), and Eta Kappa Nu (engineering).

He received a BS degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1961, and an MBA from Texas Christian University in 1975.