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Vice Adm. Seiko Okano To Lead Navy Innovation and Acquisition Efforts

The admiral brings decades of operational and acquisition experience to her new position.

Now-Vice Adm. Seiko Okano, commander, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), salutes the sideboys during the Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160) change of command ceremony August 29, 2024. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Ramon Go

Now-Vice Adm. Seiko Okano, principal military deputy, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, salutes the sideboys during the Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160) change of command ceremony August 29, 2024. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Ramon Go

Vice Adm. Seiko Okano has officially taken on the role of principal military deputy, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition (ASN RDA). Prior to this appointment, she served as the commander of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command.

A native of Evanston, Illinois, Okano is a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master's degree in space systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Her operational tours include gunnery and fire control officer and electrical division officer on USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), which deployed to Somalia; and Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet flag aide in Okinawa, Japan.

She also assisted with defeating radio-controlled improvised explosive devices during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where she served on Joint Crew Composit Squadron One in Tikrit.

Okano has had a number of tours in acquisition since starting as an engineering duty officer in 2001, including with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego and the Missile Defense Agency. In her role at the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems, she was the major program manager for Above Water Sensors (PEO IWS 2), overseeing the development of all surface radars, electronic warfare systems and directed energy programs.

Okano was nominated for a third star and for promotion to her new role in June. She has since officially assumed the role, succeeding Vice Adm. Francis Morley (Ret.) in her new role.

The announcement from the ASN RDA LinkedIn page said, “Her dynamic energy and leadership skill will help the Navy accelerate innovation and put lethality into the hands of the warfighter.”