Leadership

Captain Patrick M. McKenna

Commanding Officer

A native of Middleton, Wisconsin, Capt. McKenna graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics. He was commissioned upon graduation of Officer Candidate School at NAS Pensacola, FL, and began flight training there in January 2001. He earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold in February 2003 and was assigned to the VFA125 “Rough Raiders” at NAS Lemoore, CA, for fleet replacement training in the F/A-18C Hornet.

McKenna reported in January 2004 to the VFA-27 “Royal Maces” based at NAF Atsugi, Japan, where he completed six Western Pacific patrols aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) flying the F/A-18C and F/A-18E Super Hornet. Following this tour, he was selected to attend Test Pilot School via an officer exchange program with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) and graduated in December 2007 from Empire Test Pilot School at MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK, as a member of Fixed Wing Class 66. A qualified Landing Signal Officer and Test Pilot, CAPT McKenna joined the VX-23 “Salty Dog” Carrier Suitability Department aboard NAS Patuxent River, MD, where he served as lead Project Officer for numerous landing systems projects including initial certification of both the EA-18G Growler and the USS GEORGE BUSH (CVN 77) for shipboard launch and recovery operations.

McKenna returned to the fleet as Carrier Air Wing EIGHT Landing Signal Officer (“CAG Paddles”) and Air Wing Safety Officer in 2009 at NAS Oceana, VA, where he oversaw the work-up and deployment of CVW-8 aboard USS BUSH for CVN 77’s first operational mission. Selected for Operational Department Head, he joined the VFA-81 “Sunliners” in February 2011 and completed back-to-back deployments with Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN aboard the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) in 2011 and 2012 serving as squadron Operations Officer, Maintenance Officer, Administrative Officer, and Safety Officer.

Following his department head tour, McKenna reported to the National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, VA, in December 2013 as Chief of the joint, interagency Training and Exercise Group in NRO’s Mission Integration Directorate, qualifying as an Information Dominance Warfare Officer and a member of the Navy’s Space Cadre. During this time he earned a Master of Science in Systems Engineering and a graduate certificate in Space Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School. He was also selected as a Service Chief’s Fellow at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), completing a fellowship studying R&D project management practices. He reported to the VFA-113 “Stingers” in April 2017 where he completed the 2017-2018 deployment aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, serving as Commanding Officer until Nov 2019.

McKenna joined PEO C4I Carrier Air Integration Program Office (PMW 750) as the Air-Sea Integration Lead until transferring to Tactical C2 Systems Program Office (PMW 150) in Oct 2020 where he served as lead for the Link 16 Crypto Modernization Surface Campaign. He was selected as Executive Aide to NAVWAR Commander in Mar 2022 and reported as NIWC Pacific Commanding Officer in May 2023. McKenna has accumulated 3000+ flight hours in 42 aircraft and 700+ carrier arrested landings, including 57 combat missions. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), NRO Bronze Service Medal, and various service awards and ribbons.

Michael McMillan

Executive Director

Mr. Michael McMillan currently serves as the executive director for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, where he leads more than 5,000 civilian and military personnel, and an organization with $3 billion in total obligating authority, in the research, development, fielding and 
support of advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), cyber and space capabilities.

McMillan was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2023. Prior to his appointment, McMillan served as the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) (Senior Scientific Technical Manager) department head at NIWC Pacific from 2018 to 2023, where he led a diverse and highly technical team of more than 600 employees in providing leadingedge ISR solutions to the nation’s warfighters. He began his federal civilian service in 2008 at (then) Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific as the Command Information Assurance Officer.

McMillan was commissioned in the United States Navy under the Aviation Officer Candidate School program in October 1986. McMillan was qualified as a Radar Intercept Officer in F-14 Tomcats, and served in multiple Tomcat squadrons including Fighter Squadron (VF) 143, VF-101, VF-103, and VF-2. Among other qualifications, he was a Forward Air Controller (airborne), a Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Strike Mission Commander, and F-14 Demonstration aircrew, with more than 2000 hours of flight time, 835 carrier arrested landings, and 42 combat missions in Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Southern Watch. McMillan retired from active duty in 2007, following his tour as the executive officer of SSC Pacific.

McMillan graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1984 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in materials science, and from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1997 with a master’s degree in national security affairs.

McMillan is the recipient of numerous military awards including the Air Medal (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) and numerous unit and service medals. He has also been awarded the NIWC Pacific Lauritsen Bennet Award (the organization’s highest award for individual achievement), a Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and Exemplary Achievement Award (two awards).

McMillan is a member of the Acquisition Corps, holding a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Systems Engineering Level 3 certification, and is also a previously certified Navy mediator with the Navy’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Center of Excellence.

Captain Joseph Houser

Executive Officer

Captain Joseph Houser, a native of El Paso, Texas, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2001 with a degree in Mathematics. Commissioned a Naval Flight Officer, he later transitioned to the Information Professional (IP) community.

Afloat he was assigned to VAW-123 Screwtops from 2004-2007 in Norfolk, Virginia. He also deployed aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN65) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. After transferring to the IP community, he served as the Combat Systems Information Officer aboard USS AMERICA (LHA6) during its pre-commissioning period in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and San Diego from 2012 to 2015. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Carrier Strike Group NINE Deputy Information Warfare Commander and Staff N6 aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN71), executing two Western Pacific deployments.

Shore tours include a 2007 to 2010 assignment to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific as the Fleet Liaison for the E2-C Hawkeye community for mission computer software development and the Ballistic Missile Defense C4I Operations Officer in support of testing for the Missile Defense Agency. From 2015 to 2018, he was assigned to United States Strategic Command Joint Force Global Strike in Omaha, Nebraska, as an Information Operations planner. In 2018, he completed a follow-on assignment to Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego as the director of training supporting Pacific Fleet assets through the Optimized Fleet Response Plan across the Information Warfare disciplines. He also served as the executive officer for Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station San Diego as a temporary assignment. From 2021 to 2023, he supported the stand up of Project Overmatch as the Fleet Liaison. Most recently, Houser was assigned as executive officer for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in March 2023.

Houser holds master’s degrees in Space Systems Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School and Government Information Leadership (Chief Information Officer) through the National Defense University. He is designated a Joint Qualified Officer and is Space Cadre and Acquisition qualified. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Command Master Chief Jason Brannam

Command Master Chief

Master Chief Electronics Technician Jason L. Brannam, a native of San Diego, enlisted in the United States Navy, Sept. 11, 2000. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command, he reported to Naval Training Center (NTC) where he completed apprenticeship training.

After graduating from NTC, he reported for duty onboard the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN74) as a Communications Electronic Technician.

His fleet assignments include Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, Mobile Communications Team ONE; and SEAL Team SEVEN as a tactical communicator and direct combat service support technician in Afghanistan, Korea, and United Arab Emirates; USS PRINCETON (CG59) as a Combat Systems Department Leading Chief Petty Officer (DLCPO) and Combat Electronics Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO). Brannam also completed shore assignments at Fleet Area Control and Surveillance, San Diego, as an Air Traffic Control Communications Technician, and the Center for Surface Combat Systems Detachment West as a Super High Frequency Systems Instructor and the Electronic Training Department LCPO.

Brannam holds an Associate of Science degree from Vincennes University (2012), and a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (2011) majoring in Electronic Systems Technologies.

Brannam has earned his Enlisted Surface, Expeditionary, Aviation, and Information Warfare designations, as well as Master Training Specialist. Additionally, Master Chief Brannam graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 214, in May 2018 and served as a board member for the fiscal year 2019 Chief Selection Board.

His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbons (two awards), and various unit and campaign awards.