Education: Graduate, Executive Leadership Course, The Pennsylvania State University Graduate, Naval War College MA, Business Administration, The George Washington University BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico

Rear Admiral (Ret) Retz brings more than 32 years of experience as a career Naval Surface Warfare Officer and his recent experience as a senior executive in the private sector to the study of defense and homeland security issues for government agencies and commercial clients.

As a junior officer, Admiral Retz served with the river patrol forces in Vietnam, Navy amphibious forces during the ’73 Middle East crisis, and conducted several of the early shipboard at sea tests of the Tomahawk missile system. He served at sea in frigates, destroyers and cruisers and commanded at the ship, squadron and group level. As the Operations Deputy for US Central Command during the “tanker war” in the Persian Gulf, he was responsible for improving the remote stateside command links for those operations and participated in the planning for what later became Operation Desert Storm. From 1992-94, Admiral Retz commanded Naval Base Pearl Harbor and the Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. Prior to his retirement from active duty in 1995, Admiral Retz was the responsible commander for the closure of the Philadelphia Naval Base, as directed by the Base Closure Commission.

Admiral Retz will promote and advance Defense Solutions’ vision of identifying the world’s best technologies for the US military. Admiral Retz knows both the technologies and how our Armed Forces work. He has the right combination of military operational experience and private sector management expertise to formulate Defense and Homeland Security policies and identify the technologies that our forces need.

Rear Admiral Retz’ decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3 gold stars), Bronze Star with combat “V”, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation and various campaign and service awards.

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