Rick Quade

Rick Quade was a transformational defense executive whose career spans senior leadership roles in the Office of Secretary of War and the Department of Navy. Throughout his career, Mr. Quade demonstrated extraordinary leadership through change management, strategic alignment and mission focus that had profound effects on research, development and testing.

As Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), he was appointed to lead a strategic overhaul of the Department’s operational testing enterprise—streamlining manpower, eliminating non‑value activities, and reinforcing statutory rigor while serving as the Secretary of War’s senior advisor on all matters related to weapon system testing. His independent assessments on weapon systems’ survivability, lethality and suitability to the Secretary and Congress shaped decisions on the nation’s most critical warfighting capabilities.

Rick previously served as the Department of the Navy Chief Engineer and Test & Evaluation (T&E) Executive, where he led the integration and synchronization of the Navy’s engineering and T&E enterprises. He advanced the Navy’s digital engineering modernization efforts to develop and implement model‑based and mission‑engineering frameworks to support the Systems Commands and Program Executive Offices. He established Navy engineering and T&E policies, strengthened workforce competency standards, and reformed systems engineering governance through the Navy’s Systems Engineering Steering Group and technical authority boards.  His leadership strengthened engineering rigor, enhanced test relevancy and improved the readiness of the technical workforce to support major naval acquisition programs.

As Director of Navy Innovation, Technology Requirements, and T&E (OPNAV N94), Rick oversaw a $4.2B annual portfolio spanning science and technology, prototyping & experimentation, operational energy, fleet training ranges, T&E infrastructure and threat target systems. He optimized the science and technology investment strategy, aligned technology maturation to operational gaps, and implemented test and technology roadmaps to guide resource allocations that accelerated the transition of emerging technologies into warfighting capability.

Rick’s earlier career includes positions as the Assistant Program Manager for the E‑2D Advanced Hawkeye, Navy Major Range and Test Facility Base Program Manager, AIRSpeed Deployment Champion, Division Head of Atlantic Marine Operations and Targets and various roles supporting engineering and test teams.