Public Sector Executive
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP | INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Championing excellence in local government, community, business relationships and organizational leadership.
Seasoned public administrator and City Manager with 20+ years experience leading municipal and military organizations.
Proven record directing day-to-day municipal operations, budget development and administration (multi-fund $227M), personnel management (365 FTEs), capital project coordination, and grants procurement ($33.2M awarded; $34.9M advanced).
Collaborative, transparent leader experienced in policy implementation, intergovernmental relations, economic development, and restoring organizational continuity while aligning operations to Council strategic priorities.
Areas of Excellence
Grant Procurement & Management • Budget Development & Multi-fund Budgeting • Financial Management
Capital Project Planning & Execution • Economic Development & Downtown Revitalization • Recruitment
Contract Management • Intergovernmental Relations • Policy Implementation • Conflict Resolution
Emergency Management & Resilience Planning • Performance Metrics & Analytical Reporting • Resource Allocation
Service Delivery Optimization • Personnel & Workforce Management • Workflow Optimization
Project Coordination & Project Management • Wastewater & Stormwater Management • Communications
Community Engagement • Zoning & Land Use Management • Negotiation & Mediation • Physical Asset Security
SNAPSHOT OF CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
➢ Forward-thinking contingency planner, ensuring 500+ personnel are prepared for a rapid response to critical events across domestic and global locations.
➢ Fostered federal, state, and local partnerships to advance strategic plans, amplifying synergistic endeavors.
➢ Skilled in managing substantial budgets, expertly overseeing a $134M general fund budget and $93.9M in enterprise fund budgets.
Professional Experience
Municipal Chief Executive Officer
Jul 2024 – Present
Chief Executive Officer (City Manager)
City of Newport, Rhode Island Newport, RI
Led full-service municipal government of 365 full time employees and a multi-fund $227M operating budget, directing budget development, personnel management, and aligning departmental priorities with City Council strategic vision.
Operationalized the Council strategic plan by establishing strategic outcome focus groups to prioritize capital investments, track KPIs, and measure performance, improving transparency and service delivery.
Established the Office of Resilience & Sustainability to embed water, stormwater, wastewater, cyber, and roadway resilience into capital planning, improving cross-departmental coordination for investments.
Launched a Grants Office that secured $33.2M in FY26 awards and advanced $34.9M in additional applications, increasing external financing for capital and operating needs.
Conducted emergency management tabletop exercises that strengthened whole-of-government readiness and rapid recovery capability for a 34-inch blizzard (Feb 2026).
Presented and recommended financing options to the City Council—including GO bond reallocations, conduit loans, and state infrastructure bank funds—for urgent wastewater primary clarifier repairs, enabling immediate construction and preventing catastrophic failure.
Coordinated with U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) on two Opportunity Zone 2.0 nominations.
Chief Executive Officer (Commanding Officer)
Sep 2022 – Jun 2024
Navy Reserve Center Newport Newport, RI
Collateral Duties: financial Certifying Officer
Managed a $372K operational budget and a $3.36M annual training budget
Administered training, personnel readiness, and administrative supervision for 20 full-time employees and 500+ part-time reservists.
Boosted funded organizational staffing from 56% to 89% by analyzing manpower data, optimizing staffing processes, and leveraging Navy manpower systems and professional relationships.
Maintained a 100% training and administration retention rate through targeted training initiatives and accountability measures.
Eliminated 100% of overdue employee medical reviews (from 15 to 0 in 10 months) by implementing urgency protocols and tracking systems.
Researched and initiated plans to establish a sub-regional mobilization processing center to improve mass mobilization readiness for 3,059 personnel.
Inspire Selective Reserve Forces and staff to see the big picture and have a sense of mission and vision put forth by the Chief of Naval Operations
Supervise staff spanning various departments and areas of specialization - operations, administration, reserve pay, reserve medical, information technology (IT), supply and logistics
Counsel/Mentor senior staff on the future management of their careers
Mentor junior sailors on career paths and compliance with advancement requirements
Perform Funeral Honors, regional honors for departed veterans and active duty service members and their families to ensure they depart with the honors and customs they deserve for their service
Coordination and liaison with other commands in and around Newport Naval Base
Director of Travel
Jul 2019 – Jul 2022
Navy Reserve Forces Command Norfolk, VA
Collateral Duties: Commander Navy Reserve Force Idea Portal Coordinator, Senior Watch officer
Skills: Ethics, Regulations, & Enforcement · Directorate Leadership · Travel and Transportation Management · Policy Formulation and Development
Directed 17 military and civilian personnel in travel policy development and coordination for 160 direct-report units
Maintained indirect oversight of 360 staff and supported readiness and logistics for 50K+ personnel.
Remedied 360+ rejected travel system vouchers by establishing a weekly interdisciplinary diagnostics team and applying analytical review, resolving $440K+ in overdue liquidations and restoring financial accountability.
Engineered and oversaw a $200K pilot program to improve travel procedures, producing proof-of-concept outcomes that enabled more responsive mobilization.
Collaborated with operations and leadership teams during the initial COVID-19 response and early information collection efforts related to the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Brought to fruition a 21 month effort to enable mobilization travel arrangements through the Defense Travel System. Single handedly pushed the initiative through OPNAV N10 and PERS-5, securing a $200,000 commitment to a proof of concept pilot. Lessons learned from the pilot will inform the future of Adaptive Mobilization.
Interacted with travel management companies and passenger transportation officers
Enforced entitlement ethics and regulations
Worked with Operational Commands and their Reserve Program Directors to quickly move Sailors in support of CENTCOM for Afghanistan and non-combatant evacuation as well as the EUCOM JFMCC in response to the Russia-Ukraine war. Emphasized maximum communications with volunteers over travel entitlements and best practices.
Continued to affect SELRES travel for essential missions as the COVID pandemic stymied air transportation. Performed Distributed Mobilization by planning for mass transit in a crisis
Engineered a plan to use the Defense Travel System for mobilizations for break legacy reservation and travel claim logjams that would grind the influx of strategic depth to a halt when the Nation needed it most. Obtained buy in from NPPSC, PERS, and OCNR using a brilliant bottom up design approach
Leveraged knowledge to convince the Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center to change their approach to Basic Allowance for Housing payments to the benefit of Sailors
Advised Active/Reserve Flag Matters on order type
Coordinated with six Reserve Component Commands to provide urgent pandemic medical response in coordination with US Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH)
Pushed for the correction of 361 rejected Defense Travel System (DTS) Vouchers, to include the establishment of a cross code weekly working group for diagnostics and proposed solutions. His guidance helped settle $440,651 worth of overdue liquidations
Supervised the ongoing design and production of the Navy Reserve Orders Writing System (NROWS) simplification initiative. Articulated the challenges, risks, and legal barriers to using NROWS for Distributed Mobilization. Drove the emergent restoration of NROWS’ backup system, the Contingency Orders Tracking Software (COTS)
Code coordinator for the Navy Reserve Idea Portal, part of CNR’s Ready to Win (R2W) initiative. Fielded operations oriented ideas from the Force, categorizing ideas and coordinating feedback
Skillfully screened 28 resumes and conducted seven interviews to fill his Lead (GS-12) and Organizational (GS-8) Defense Travel Administrator positions.
Chief Executive Officer (Commanding Officer)
Jul 2016 – Jul 2018
Navy Operational Support Center Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
Collateral Duties: Security Manager, financial authorization and certification Official, Navy reserve order writing system fund approver, government commercial purchase card and government travel charge card approving official
Oversaw 15 full-time support personnel, ensuring readiness, staffing management, logistics, mobilization training, and administrative support for 130 assigned Navy Reservists.
• Liaised with regional public works to secure $1.8M in maintenance and physical security upgrade contracts, improving facility readiness and physical security.
• Directed personnel security processes with 100% accuracy for classified clearance checks, reducing mobilization delays.
• Formulated and executed local policies to maintain accountability and discipline, enhancing team performance and relationships with local law enforcement.
• Cultivated partnerships with civilian and veteran groups to strengthen civil–military relations.
Led a staff of 15 military and civil service personnel in the training, administrative, medical, and mobilization readiness of 240 Selected Reserve citizen-Sailors.
Coordinated with two Navy Reserve Unit Commanding Officers for the optimization of operational effectiveness.
Supported the transition of Reserve Component Sailors to and from active duty, solicited support from civilian employers, and enforced compliance with Navy Reserve satisfactory participation requirements.
Served as a military liaison to civilian and veterans groups in Southeast Wisconsin for the benefit of civil-military relations and appreciation as well as service recruitment.
Provided a steady stream of invaluable feedback that aligns with CNR’s Simplify/Enable/Leverage/Resource paradigm.
Led in a full scale Command Investigation. His attention to detail is spot on. During this challenging and time consuming assignment, the day to day NOSC Milwaukee
operations continued without delay, which is indicative of the professionalism with which he trains his Sailors and builds depth on the bench.
Provided critical feedback to CNRFC’s OSU restructuring initiative.
Developed a local policy that clarified both requirements and expectations for visual musters, thereby audit proofing the compensation provided for duty performed while encouraging good order and discipline. Innovative problem solver who would be ideally employed on the CNR Staff.
Mastered the art of leading horizontally; keeping him approachable while leaving his staff feeling empowered and impactful.
Significant positive impact to moral and performance of entire command.
Gifted public speaker and outreach specialist
Focused on regional collaboration, shared time and resources with USCG Sector Lake Michigan, NROTC Marquette, 128th Air Refueling Wing, and Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments.
Director of Combat Systems Training and Readiness
June 2014 to June 2016
Naval Surface Force Atlantic Norfolk, Virginia
Collateral Duties: staff duty officer, fleet officer schools and qualifications coordinator, readiness-evaluation phase 3 inspector
Skills: Continuing Education & Training Administration · Program Management · Leadership in Emerging Technology
Led the development of new training requirements for four emerging technology programs.
Re-wrote the Surface Force Training Manual to streamline warship Crew training and significantly improve the readiness process to meet emerging geo-political threats.
Created the Strike Warfare Certification Instruction, applying a continuous training paradigm to Naval Surface Fire Support training and the Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification process.
Supported overall administrative control, training, maintenance and readiness of 45 assigned surface warships and their logistical support.
Served as the Atlantic area Command-at-Sea qualification and education coordinator.
Responsible for the development and oversight of Atlantic surface force combat systems training directives and initiatives.
Supported overall administrative control, training, maintenance and readiness of 45 assigned surface warships and their logistical support.
Led the development of new training requirements for four emerging technology programs.
Re-wrote the SFEM to streamline ship training and significantly improve the readiness process to meet near peer threats.
Responsible for the development and oversight of Atlantic surface force combat systems training directives and initiatives.
Supported overall administrative control, training, maintenance and readiness of 45 assigned surface warships and their logistical support.
Served as the Atlantic area Command-at-Sea qualification and education coordinator.
Expertly coordinated the Command Qual process and certification of CO/XO fleet-ups for East Coast Ships.
Created the Strike Warfare Cert Instruction, applying continue training paradigm to NSFS and CMTQ.
Leads CNSF working group exploring the reduction of VBSS training requirements without sacrificing COCOM expectations.
Coordinated support of USFFC, CNSF, NETC, ATG, CSG4, TACTRAGRULANT, and 12 ISICs to transform how we train, developing new training requirements for emerging technologies ISO Electromagnetic Warfare, Emissions Control, SM-6 Missile and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA); rewriting the SFTM and SFEM with CNSP.
Meticulously analyzed training grading and reporting methods, and developed changes required to implement better readiness indicators for senior leadership.
Warship Operations Officer and Department Head
August 2011 to June 2013
CG-71 USS Cape ST George San Diego, California
Collateral Duties: group tactical air defense coordinator, senior watch officer, safety officer, tactical action officer, force tactical action officer, command duty officer Warship Operations Officer & Department Head. Responsible for departmental management and tactical air defense coordination for the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group while serving aboard the USS CAPT ST. GEORGE (CG 71). Also served as the senior officer in charge of all duty and watch-standing as well as the lead shipboard safety officer. Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.Warship Operations Officer & Department Head. Responsible for departmental management and tactical air defense coordination for the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group while serving aboard the USS CAPT ST. GEORGE (CG 71). Also served as the senior officer in charge of all duty and watch-standing as well as the lead shipboard safety officer. Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Skills: Departmental Leadership · Tactics Employment & Execution · Industrial Safety & Hygiene · Operations Management
Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Responsible for departmental management and tactical air defense coordination for the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
Master established of partnerships. Build bridges with United States Air Force and United Kingdom Royal Navy counterparts to modernize coalition air defense tactics and cooperation in the Arabian Gulf.
Identified requirements, unified the efforts of stakeholders and overcame significant material challenges to successfully execute safety and industrial hygiene surveys.
Led all shipboard duty assignments and qualification training as the Senior Watch Officer.
Working with ATG and TYCOM, Kennedy wrote and re-wrote the ship’s basic phase schedule five times to account for changes due to maintenance extensions, changing TMI and INSURV dates and an uncertain deployment timeframe.
Anticipated 3-4 moves ahead and develops workable solutions to cover any scheduling contingencies that arose
Identified requirements, unified the efforts of stakeholders and overcame significant material challenges to successfully execute a SAFECEN conducted Safety survey during an intrusive DRAV period.
Responsible for departmental management and tactical air defense coordination for the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group while serving aboard the USS CAPT ST. GEORGE (CG 71).
In charge of all duty and watch-standing as well as the lead shipboard safety officer.
Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Assumed the duties of Senior Watch Officer and immediately impacted the wardroom by facilitating five CO-chaired boards including two SWO qualifications.
Built bridges with USAF and Royal Navy Counterparts to modernize coalition air defense tactics and cooperation in the Arabian Gulf. His ability to establish partnerships is a key indicator of future success in the Joint arena.
Maintained close contact with ISIC counterparts and all shoreside operations/training organizations.
Successfully led the Command from deployment into the FRTP maintenance phase by focusing the crew on the end state goals of a successful INSURV and follow on deployment. He provided detailed basic phase schedules with frequent updates to his fellow DHs.
constantly organizes and prioritizes for max efficiency.
Built bridges with USAF and Royal Navy Counterparts to modernize coalition air defense tactics and cooperation in the Arabian Gulf. His ability to establish partnerships is a key indicator of future success in the Joint arena.
Using an integrated department approach, his officers and CPO’s work together across division lines, transforming his direction into step by step objective goals that withstand tight time constraints and succeed over time.
Outstanding performance as an ADC TAO during COMPTUEX 11-1. Colin displays the perfect blend of situational awareness and tactical prowess, and in a short time has earned my complete trust in the employment of Cape’ weapons systems.
Operations Officer and Department Head
February 2010 to August 2011
DDG-86 USS Shoup Everett, Washington
Collateral Duties: senior watch officer, safety officer, tactical action officer, officer of the deck, command duty officer
Skills: Departmental Leadership · Tactics Employment & Execution · Industrial Safety & Hygiene · Operations Management
Deployed to the United States Indo-Pacific and Central Command Areas of Responsibility in support of Western Pacific theater security cooperation initiatives, Indian Ocean counter piracy operations and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Responsible for departmental management of tactical combat information, cryptology, and shipboard deck, anchor and tackle equipment.
Created a detailed Junior Officer training qualification plan using alternate ships while USS Shoup was undergoing a prolonged dry dock maintenance period.
Reinvigorated a Safety Petty Officer training plan, standing up weekly reviews of safety programs in preparation for a formal Safety Survey and National Board of Inspection and Survey review.
Organized a comprehensive pre-overhaul safety stand down to ensure adequate crew involvement in daily safety walkthroughs by shipyard management.
Designed a weekly schedule and training plan that effectively sustained proficiency while preparing for multiple future deployments.
Steadfast mentorship was directly responsible for three of Shoup’s Ensigns graduating SWOS ASAT with honors.
Long range plans translate to achievable objectives that set the Command’s tone for the next five years. In preparation for a five month availability he It is a vision that meets the TYCOM requirements of today while preparing for the COCOM requirements of tomorrow.
Provided open and sound mentorship to developing junior officers, directly impacting retention and preparing our future Department Heads for success.
Situational awareness crossed departmental domains
Instantly understood long term impacts of daily decisions and provided information needed to keep immediate superiors aware of decision impacts on a real time basis.
Built incredible working relationships under challenging and stressful deployment conditions that immediately brought credit to Shoup.
Associate Professor of Naval Science
August 2006 to May 2009
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma
Collateral Duties: freshmen/sophomore advisor, recruiting officer, public affairs officer, MWR funds custodian, alumni executive council secretary/treasurer, advertising fund custodian, ads officer, swim instructor
Skills: Professorship, Teaching, and Instruction
Associate Professor of Naval Science for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) unit at the University of Oklahoma. Instructed officer candidates in: maritime navigation, naval operations and seamanship, and military leadership. Represented the Navy's Surface Warfare Officer community on the staff and served as the class advisor for all underclassmen. Separately, served as the unit's recruiting officer.
Wore the title of assistant professor with pride and maturity. Stimulated students’ appreciation for the importance of safe navigation with exceptional class preparation and exacting yet practical instruction.
Instructed officer candidates in: maritime navigation, naval operations and seamanship, and military leadership.
Represented the Navy's Surface Warfare Officer community on the staff and served as the class advisor for all underclassmen.
Served as the unit's recruiting officer.
Voluntarily scheduled two sections of the NROTC navigation course for the spring semester to ease classroom overcrowding and provide a better student-instructor ratio.
Represented the Navy’s Surface Warfare Officer community on the NROTC staff and served as the class advisor for all undergraduate freshmen and sophomores.
Led collegiate Naval Officer recruiting for the state of Oklahoma to include advertising and public affairs.
Served as the Secretary/Treasurer for the OU NROTC Alumni Executive Council and as a funds custodian for the staff Morale, Welfare and Recreation account.
Combat Information Center Division Officer
March 2005 to August 2006
LPD-13 USS Nashville Norfolk, Virginia
Collateral Duties: assistant operations officer, watch officer, force protection action officer, combat systems training team coordinator, combat information center watch officer, assistant command duty officer, combat information center watch officer
Deployed twice with the 23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit to the US European and Central Command Areas of Responsibility. Participated in the seaborne non-combatant evacuations of US Citizens from Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Led the functions of the Combat Information Center in support of US Marine Corps Expeditionary and amphibious landing operations.
Developed an innovative pier side method of Visit Board Search and Seizure team training.
Choreographed high visibility tactical exercises with ships representing seven different countries in support of the Navy’s Sixth Fleet theater engagement initiatives in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea.
Led the functions of the Combat Information Center on the USS NASHVILLE (LPD 13) in support of U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary and amphibious landing operations.
Developed from scratch an innovative import method of Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) team training to maintain ESG teams at peak readiness.
Mentored and qualify 6 Junior Officers as OOD (U/W) and Surface Warfare Officer.
Choreographed high visibility tactical exercises with ships representing seven different countries in support of Sixth Fleet’s Theater Engagement Policies.
Qualified Tactical Action Officer and stood this watch during the evacuation of 2,706 personnel from Beirut while operating in a known threat ring. Spearheaded the complete re-write of Nashville’s Battle Orders.
Deck Division Officer and Training Officer
January 2003 to February 2005
FFG-60 Rodney M Davis Everett, Washington
Collateral Duties: assistant operations officer, schools and education coordinator, integrated training team coordinator, combat information center watch officer, officer of the deck, command duty officer, aviation coordinator, search and rescue team, rig safety officer, boat officer, chief of the guard, conning officer, bulk stores custodian for controlled substances
Skills: Training Administration · Divisional Leadership · Tactics Employment & Execution · Industrial Safety & Hygiene
Led a team of Boatswain's Mates and junior seamen in the management of all deck handling equipment, tackle, anchorage procedures, line handling, and shipboard corrosion control.
Promoted to ship's Training Officer to assist the crew in rebuilding its skills between operational deployments.
Planned and coordination of over 50 successful UNREPS during an extended NIMITZ Strike Group deployment.
Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf) in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions enforcement in conjunction with Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Volunteered as Training Officer prior to Rodney M. Davis commencing the training cycle and converted the program into a Pacific Fleet model of success. He maximized limited TADTAR funding to ensure that Rodney M. Davis was the first ship to achieve the required 80% schools completion since the July 2004 revision to the SFTM, despite not being home-ported in a Fleet Concentration Area.
Led vigilant tracking of the ship’s training progress through the Unit Level Training Phase culminated in 48 of 49 teams receiving proficiency grades of “A” at the Final Evaluation Problem (FEP).
Reviewed Battle Orders and tactical memoranda publications in an effort to make the ship a more efficient Combat System. He recognizes the ever changing dynamics of modern war fighting and seeks to align his systems and personnel accordingly.
Led a team of Boatswain's Mates and junior seamen in the management of all deck handling equipment, tackle, anchorage procedures, line handling, and shipboard corrosion control.
Promoted to ship's Training Officer to assist the crew in rebuilding its skills between operational deployments.
Planned and coordination of over 50 successful UNREPS during an extended NIMITZ Strike Group deployment.
Deployed to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility (North Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf) in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions enforcement in conjunction with Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Education
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
Bachelor of Science | Oceanography
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
Master of Public Administration
Naval War College
Newport, RI
Master of Arts | National Security & Strategic Studies
United States Army Command & General Staff College
Leavenworth, KS
Senior Leadership & Management Program
AWARDS
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL
Received Three Awards - June 2016, July 8, 2022 and June 28, 2024
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL
Received Five Awards - August 19, 2006; May 8, 2009; August 12, 2011; June 14, 2013; July 14, 2016
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL
Received Three Awards - October 30, 2003; November 19, 2004; August 23, 2005