Class of 1974; Elected 2016
Drakeley was the Class of 1974 valedictorian, graduated from MIT with a BS in nuclear engineering and received an MS in physics from George Mason U. He began his career in 1978 as an officer aboard the USS Arkansas where he supervised 120 personnel and was responsible for 2 nuclear reactors. In 1985 George joined NAVSEA, the largest of the Navy’s 5 systems commands, whose objective is to build and support the Navy’s fleet of ships and its combat systems. He was responsible for all Ohio class submarine electrical systems and developed magnetic bearing and noise cancellation technologies which ensured the safety of Trident subs through the 21st century. In 1997 he joined the Virginia Class Program Office where he served as Deputy Program Manager and was responsible for the construction of 4 new subs and managing a $90B program. In 2008 a cost reduction initiative he led saved the 30 ship program over $4B. Continuing to assume more responsibilities, in 2010 George, as Director of Marine Engineering in the Senior Executive Service, was put in charge of hull mechanical and electrical systems on all ships and subs. In 2012 he was named Director of Submarine/Submersible Engineering where he was responsible for all submarines and submersibles, including the design of the Ohio class replacement submarine. In 2015 George was named Executive Director for Program Executive Officer Subs where he manages $8B a year to buy the Navy’s subs and submarine systems. Over his career he has received numerous awards including 2 Navy Superior Civilian Service Medals in 2008 and 2013 and a Navy Distinguished Service Medal in 2009.