Speakers and Moderators
CAPT. John Pope
Program Manager
Communications Program Office (PMW 170)
Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I)
Captain John W.R. Pope, III, USN, currently serves as the Program Manager for the Communications Program Office for the Program Executive Officer, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) in San Diego. In this capacity, he has oversight and responsibility for the development, fielding, and life cycle support of Navy communications systems ranging from the High Frequency (HF) bands through the Extremely High Frequency (EHF) bands. Additional program responsibilities include Common Data Link, Navy GPS navigation programs, and meteorological communications receivers.
Captain Pope was born at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. He is a 1983 cum laude graduate with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Captain Pope received his Navy commission via University of Pennsylvania NROTC in May 1983.
After completing Surface Warfare Officer, FFG-7 Engineering Officer, and Damage Control Assistant training, he reported to the USS GALLERY (FFG-26) in June 1984. While serving aboard the GALLERY, Captain Pope made Eastern Pacific and Persian Gulf deployments and qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. During this tour, he served as Damage Control Assistant and Ordnance Officer. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, from May 1987 to September 1989, and earned a Master of Science Degree with distinction in electrical engineering. He also earned an Electrical Engineer Degree at the Naval Postgraduate School and proceeded to the Engineering Duty Basic School in October 1989.
From January 1990 to July 1993, Captain Pope was assigned to Naval Sea Systems Command in Arlington, Virginia, as the Test and Evaluation Officer for the joint U.S. - Australian NULKA Decoy Project. He completed his work there with a successful Development Test and Operational Test program and proceeded to the Bureau of Naval Personnel’s Sea Duty Component in Arlington, Virginia. From August 1993 to August 1995, he served as Special Projects Officer and was a member of the technical direction staff for a Chief of Naval Operations-directed classified program.
Captain Pope served as Force Combat Systems Officer, Naval Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet in San Diego, California, from August 1995 to August 1998. From September 1998 to June 2000, he served as a Joint Task Group Manager and Afloat Installations Manager within the Installations and Logistics Directorate of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).
Following this tour, Captain Pope served as the Advanced Tactical Data Link Systems Engineer within the Tactical Data Link Programs Office, SPAWAR PMW-159, from July 2000 to November 2000. He served as Deputy Program Manager in SPAWAR PMW-176, Navy Satellite Communications Program Office, from December 2000 to July 2003.
Captain Pope served as the fifth Commanding Officer of SPAWAR Systems Center, Charleston, South Carolina, from July 2003 to June 2005. His present tour as Communications Program Manager commenced in June 2005.
Captain Pope’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of third award, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy Unit Commendation, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
