Stephen Lewia

Stephen Lewia is the mission area executive for Strategic Deterrence at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He is responsible for over 500 staff and approximately $230 million in annual funding for strategic planning, execution, and performance of strategic deterrence–related programs. Mr. Lewia came to APL after completing 29 years of naval service supporting the Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Program, including as technical director for Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), where he was responsible for all aspects of the Navy’s Trident II weapon system. He was a key member of the SSP board of directors and managed a $3 billion budget spanning support for the entire Trident II weapon system/industrial complex. Mr. Lewia held numerous leadership positions in SSP, including as commanding officer of the Navy Program Management Office, Missile Branch head, and head of missile engineering. For 19 years he served as a naval engineering duty officer in SSP. He is qualified in submarines and completed four Strategic Deterrent SSBN patrols. Mr. Lewia has a B.S. in general engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.S. in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and is certified for DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act) Level III, Program Management.