Captain Gerard P. Tighe: Protecting Our Nation: Pursuing Advanced Science And Technology For Our Soldiers And Sailors

In these difficult and stressful times in international affairs, the United States counts on a cadre of trained and experienced professionals to protect it against a variety of ever-changing international threats.  We are fortunate to have Captain Gerard (Gerry) P. Tighe, a resident of Old Greenwich, CT, with a long and distinguished career in the service of his country, to provide us with valuable first-hand insight about the nature of such dangers and this country’s efforts to combat them.  He has seen action as a Naval Captain and in the Navy Reserve, and is currently with the Department of Defense’s Threat Reduction Agency, which manages programs for offensive operations against WMD threats throughout the world.

In his 20-year career in the Navy, he had a variety of key assignments.  He was deployed in Keflavik, Iceland; Misawa and Okinawa Japan; Manama, Bahrain, and numerous detachment sites around the world.  He served tours as an instructor (Marine Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  On the USS Abraham Lincoln, he served as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch (ensuring Iraqi compliance with United Nations resolutions.)

Before leaving Active Duty, Captain Tighe reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and he participated in diplomatic missions with the United States-Russia Joint Commission on POW’s and MIA’s.

As a Captain in the Navy Reserves for the last 10 years, captain Tighe’s accomplishments include: Commanding Officer, Office of Navy Research, Science and Technology, and flying combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.

When not in uniform, Captain Tighe is a Deputy Program Manager with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, managing a Systems Engineering Team for the WMD Aerial Collection System. The program was set up to develop and demonstrate an all-in-one system for post-strike assessment of offensive operations against WMD threats.  The DTRA continues to develop and test this Unmanned Air System-based solution for locating, intercepting, and collecting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear warfare materials found within an explosive debris plume following an offensive strike on a WMD target.

A native of the Bronx, New York, Captain Tighe holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from Georgia Tech University, and a Master of Public Administration Degree from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, focusing on International Security Affairs.