Vernon “CJ” Parks

Vernon “CJ” Parks Jr. is the mission area executive for Sea Control at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He leads APL efforts supporting U.S. Navy and joint service missions to deliver essential capabilities on, under, and above the seas. The mission area advances maritime domain situational awareness; delivers kinetic and non-kinetic effects; enhances force survivability; and enables effective, affordable rapid prototyping and modernization. Mr. Parks serves on the advisory board for the Submarine Technology Symposium. Before joining APL in 2019, he retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain after serving more than 30 years as a submarine and joint officer. He commanded the USS Santa Fe (SSN-763) and Submarine Development Squadron 12. His experience spans submarine operations, training, strategy, and naval force design; Joint Force Global Force Management and regional operations; and strategic command, control, and communications. Mr. Parks holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University, and an MBA from Brenau University. In addition, he graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in National and International Security program.