(ARLINGTON, Va.) — Gibbs & Cox Inc. Chairman Ned Daffan has announced the appointment of Chris Deegan as president and chief executive, effective immediately. Deegan previously served as vice president of G&C's Engineering Group.
"Chris has delivered exceptional results in every job associated with maritime engineering and program management," said Daffan. "He is a perfect reflection of Gibbs & Cox's legendary corporate commitment to excellence."
Deegan will replace Rick Biben, who is retiring but will remain on the G&C board of directors. Biben came to G&C in 2010, after senior executive positions at SAIC, CSC (now CSRA), Anteon (now General Dynamics), and Northrop Grumman.
"Rick brought diverse, top-level corporate executive expertise to G&C just as we embarked on a major growth initiative," said Daffan. "With his direction, G&C expanded into new markets and reclaimed markets G&C had supported earlier in our history."
Under Biben's leadership:
• G&C acquired Donald L. Blount and Associates Inc. (DLBA) in 2015. DLBA is a firm renowned for its naval architecture and marine engineering services based in Chesapeake, Va. This acquisition expanded G&C's commercial market areas in engineering, design and construction management of high-performance vessels including megayachts, commercial craft, and production boats.
• G&C opened numerous new market areas, domestically and internationally, significantly diversifying and balancing G&C's portfolio in DOD, DHS, international and commercial markets.
• G&C entered the USCG market alongside Bollinger Shipyards (now part of Edison Chouest Offshore) in the future offshore patrol cutter program.
• G&C provided critical support for the restart and upgrade of the Navy's premier surface combatant with the development of the DDG 51 Class Flight III preliminary design.
• G&C solidified its key design and engineering role on the littoral combat ship program (Freedom-class variant) with prime contractor Lockheed Martin and shipyard Fincantieri's Marinette Marine.
• G&C expanded into the government services sector, winning prime contracts supporting the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division's Combatant Craft Division, and NSWC Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) ship systems hardening organization.
Deegan spent nearly 28 years in the Navy's acquisition and cost engineering communities, leading nuclear submarine, ship and combat systems programs prior to joining Gibbs & Cox in 2013. His past 10 years with the Navy were as a member of the Senior Executive Service supporting NAVSEA and Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems.
Deegan earned a bachelor's of science degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University, a master's of science degree in engineering from the Catholic University of America. He was selected as a Brookings Institute fellow in 1997, serving on the staff of Rep. John Murtha. He was cited as NAVSEA Engineer of the Year in 1993, is a certified program management professional, and a licensed professional engineer (naval architecture).
For more information, visit www.gibbscox.com.
