Thomas B. Modly

Honorable Thomas B. Modly is a strategic, innovative, and impactful leader with distinguished accomplishments in the military, academia, business, and government service at the highest levels. He is currently the President and CEO of Belarock Ventures, LLC, a strategic advisory and investment firm. He was the 33rd Under Secretary of the Navy from 2017 to 2019, and for five months, the Acting Secretary of the Navy. Throughout his tenure, Secretary Modly focused on increasing agility and accountability throughout the Department’s workforce and in its vital business operations, including information management, that support warfighting wholeness for Sailors and Marines. His leadership style was marked by his compassion for Sailors and Marines and their families, his propensity to challenge conventional wisdom, and his prioritization on the intellectual development of his subordinates. His frequent, open, and active communication with all levels of the nearly 1 million person Department of the Navy was a hallmark of his tenure.

Prior to his current position, Secretary Modly was a Managing Director with PricewaterhouseCoopers. At PwC, he was Global Government Defense Network Leader and the lead partner for the firm’s NATO account. While at PwC he also led economic development teams in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the stabilization efforts in both countries. His experience also includes time as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Financial Management where he drove business management reforms for the Department and 10 years as a corporate strategist and mergers and acquisitions specialist in the aviation/aerospace and information technology services industries.

Secretary Modly is the son of Eastern European immigrants who escaped from behind the Iron Curtain after World War II. He was raised in Cleveland, OH before entering the Naval Academy where he graduated with distinction. While in Annapolis he also began work on a MA in Government/International Relations from Georgetown University. He completed this degree before entering flight school where he earned his wings as a Naval Aviator. Secretary Modly was also an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After leaving active duty he earned an MBA with Honors from Harvard Business School with a concentration in Business, Government and Strategy.