2016 West: Premier Sea Services Event San Diego

The Honorable Jay Cohen
Principal, The Chertoff Group
and former Chief of Naval Research


Jay M. Cohen was commissioned in 1968 upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. His early Navy assignments included service on conventional and nuclear submarines. From 1993-1997 he reported to the Secretary of the Navy as Deputy Chief of Navy Legislative Affairs. During this assignment, Cohen was responsible for supervising all Navy Congressional liaison. Cohen was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in October 1997 and reported to the Joint Staff as Deputy Director for Operations responsible to the President and DoD leaders for strategic weapons release authority. In June 1999, he assumed duties as Director Navy Y2K Project Office responsible for transitioning all Navy computer systems into the new century. In June 2000, Cohen was promoted in rank and became the 20th Chief of Naval Research. He served during war as the Department of the Navy Chief Technology Officer. After an unprecedented five and a half year assignment as Chief of Naval Research, RADM Cohen retired from the Navy on February 1, 2006. Unanimously confirmed by the US Senate, Cohen was sworn in as Under Secretary for Science & Technology at the Department of Homeland Security (responsible for DHS Research, Development, Test and Evaluation) on August 10, 2006. Since leaving government, RADM Cohen is now a principal in The Chertoff Group, serves on numerous corporate boards and as CEO of JayMCohen LLC is an independent consultant for science and technology in support of domestic and international defense, homeland security and energy issues and solutions.

Sessions :