Mr. Stephenson is a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Following completion of Naval Nuclear Power School and Submarine School, he was assigned to USS SAM HOUSTON (SSBN 609) (Blue). Mr. Stephenson completed the ship’s refueling overhaul, post overhaul shakedown operations, and four deterrent patrols in the Western Pacific. He was qualified in submarines and as a Chief Engineer of a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant. Mr. Stephenson then served at Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific (COMSUBPAC) as command center watch officer, local operations officer, and as the first Shore Targeting Terminal Officer.
Mr. Stephenson left active duty in 1980 and was commissioned in the Naval Reserve. Following department head and executive officer tours in the submarine reserve program, he commanded the reserve detachments of Commander, Submarine Squadron Seven, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), and U.S. Pacific Command. After 30 years of active and reserve service, Mr. Stephenson retired from the Naval Reserve in 2003.
In his civilian career, Mr. Stephenson initially worked at COMSUBPAC as the lead analyst and action officer for the submarine launched TOMAHAWK Cruise Missile and the Combat Control System MK I. He was responsible for the development of tactics techniques and procedures for submarine launched cruise missiles. Hired by the Naval Oceans Systems Center in 1985, Mr. Stephenson worked to develop the Force Over-the-Horizon Targeting Track Coordinator Concept. He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 to provide on-site engineering support for Commander, Naval Forces Central Command during Operation Desert Storm. Upon his return, Mr. Stephenson served as the Navy lead engineer for the Joint Warfighter Interoperability Demonstrations from 1992 to 1997. These experiments led to the successful demonstration of internet protocol connectivity to ships.
Mr. Stephenson was detailed to COMPACFLT in 1998 to assist in the development of the IT-21 program. In 1999, he was the lead engineer for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Fleet Systems Engineering Team. Mr. Stephenson deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001-02 and in support of Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He worked Navy efforts to improve coalition interoperability which led to the development and deployment of the CENTRIXS maritime system.
Mr. Stephenson was promoted to Senior Leader in July 2005. From 2005 to 2018 he served as Technical Director for Fleet Readiness, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. In this capacity, he was the lead Fleet Systems Engineer and the U. S. Navy technical warrant holder for C4I and Coalition interoperability.
Mr. Stephenson was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in April 2018. He served as the Director Communications and Information Systems (N6) for the Pacific Fleet until March 2023.
In April, 2018, Mr. Stephenson became the Executive Director for Maritime Information Warfare & Command Information Officer (N05ED) for COMPACFLT located in Pearl Harbor, HI. As the fleet N05ED, Mr. Stephenson was responsible for all Command and Control, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Targeting capabilities for all afloat and ashore commands in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also had oversight of space and cyber operations conduction in support of maritime operations. As the Chief Information Officer, he was actively engaged in strategic C4I and Information Technology (IT) initiatives within the Department of the Navy, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and COMPACFLT.
Mr. Stephenson currently serves as the Director, Requirements and Resources (J8), Headquarters, U.S. IndoPacific Command (USINDOPACOM). As the USINDOPACOM J8, Mr. Stephenson facilitates the development of USINDOPACOM requirements for the Future Years Defense Program, translates those requirements into material and non-material solutions through advocacy, science and technology, and innovation and experimentation, and manages the headquarters’ $500M annual budget.
Mr. Stephenson’s personal awards include the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, three Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards, the Lauritsen-Bennett Award for Excellence in Engineering, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer E-government Award, 2011 Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Group Achievement Award, Vice Presidential Award for Acquisition Reform (Group), Chief of Naval Operations Copernicus Award (2005), Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer EGOV Group Award (2004), Special Commendation for Desert Shield/Desert Storm Support, Joint Meritorious Unit Award for Operation Tomodachi, and various Defense Information Systems Agency, Chief of Naval Operations, and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command individual and group achievement awards. Mr. Stephenson was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Senior Professional in 2014 and the Royal Australian Navy Gold Level Commendation in 2024.