Admiral Gregory Slavonic
Senior Advisor
Gregory Slavonic serves as Senior Advisor at American Global Strategies. Secretary Slavonic brings expertise from senior civilian and military leadership roles in defense policy, naval operations, strategic communications, workforce management, and national security to AGS’ defense and national security work.
Secretary Slavonic served as Under Secretary of the Navy, Deputy and Principal Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and the Department’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer. He also served as Acting Secretary of the Navy. In these roles, he oversaw intelligence activities, special access programs, critical infrastructure, the Department’s budget of more than $200 billion, and the development of future weapons systems.
As Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Secretary Slavonic was responsible for the supervision and oversight of approximately 800,000 active-duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. He also developed the Department of the Navy’s first Civilian Human Capital Strategy and managed critical workforce policy issues during the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before joining the Department of the Navy, Secretary Slavonic served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator James Lankford and previously served as his chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also held senior roles at Computer Sciences Corporation and has more than four decades of experience in communications, broadcasting, and print media. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of BlueWater Strategies, a consulting firm focused on strategic communications, crisis communications, and leadership programs.
Secretary Slavonic retired from the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve after a 34-year career, having risen from Seaman Recruit to Rear Admiral. His service included four command assignments and combat deployments during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His final assignment was as the Navy’s Vice Chief of Information and Director of the Public Affairs Program for the Navy Reserve.
Secretary Slavonic has written books on leadership, Jim Thorpe, and the first court arraignment of Saddam Hussein. His military and civilian honors include two Bronze Star Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, and the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.
He currently serves on the boards and advisory boards of several defense-related companies and on the Board of Directors of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Secretary Slavonic earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.
