Dr. Douglas E. Fenner
In 1977, Dr. Fenner began his military career with the U.S. Navy. After completing his technical training in Orlando, Florida, he was assigned to the Weapons Department at Naval Air Station, North Island as a Torpedoman Technologist. He worked on a variety of weapon systems while stationed at both the Naval Air Station and onboard the USS Holland in HolyLoch, Scotland.
In 1981, Dr. Fenner worked in the private sector for six years as a support engineer with companies such as Aeronautical Research Incorporation (ARINC) and Access Research Corporation in San Diego, CA.
In 1987, Dr. Fenner began his federal service career with the Naval Missile Center, Point Mugu, CA. He worked as a radar technician on San Nicholas Island for several months before joining ranks as an electronics technologist in the Shipboard Test and Evaluation Department with Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Command Detachment, San Diego, CA. He was responsible for providing on-range testing for ships and submarines’ weapon systems such as vertical launch systems, tomahawk cruise missiles, torpedo tubes, gyros and various radar and sonar systems.
In 1989, Dr. Fenner worked as a computer specialist in the Information Systems Department with the Fleet Industrial Supply Center, San Diego, CA. Dr. Fenner was responsible for evaluating and implementing policies and procedures and managing local area and wide area networks.
In 1995, Dr. Fenner became the Department Head of the Network Management Department, Naval Medical Information Management Center, Detachment, San Diego. He led the efforts for application upgrades for a 30,000-node wide area network in support of both international and domestic users, and spearheaded the implementation of a centralized Composite Healthcare Systems Helpdesk. Dr. Fenner was later selected as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for TRICARE Region Nine, San Diego, CA, in 1996. He spearheaded policy and program development and implementation for the state-of-the-art Telemedicine and Women BreastCancer programs that were implemented across 46 military medical treatment facilities and clinics in the southwest region. In addition, he researched, designed and implemented the organization’s Gigabyte Ethernet wide area and local area networks and video teleconference center.
In 1999, Dr. Fenner became the Director of N6, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4S), with Military Sealift Command Pacific. He led a diverse staff of 78+ employees, managed seven technology divisions, and administered command and control communications support for approximately 45 USNS ships located around the world. He developed organizational information technology security policies, plans and programs for both afloat and ashore readiness. He also spearheaded the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (N/MCI) transition.
In 2002, Dr. Fenner joined ranks with Marine Corps Systems Command, and served as the West Coast Regional Contracting Officer’s Representative and Technical Liaison. He led the all efforts pertaining to mitigating contract disputes between the government and contractor. Likewise, he guided the west coast transition for both the Marine Corps’ Enterprise Sustainment Initiative (ESI) and the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) information technology programs, which consisted of over 45,000 marines, civilians and contractors.
In 2009, he joined ranks with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego, CA. Dual hatted as the Director of Organizational Development and Training Management and Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Program Director (DAWIA DPD), he led command-wide competency aligned organizational (CAO) and competency development model (CDM) initiatives; and provided training and career development programs for a decentralized workforce of over 16,000 scientists, program managers, engineers, information technology, administrative, research personnel, military personnel and contractors. He was accountable for developing and enforcing training strategies, instructions, policies, procedures and guidelines. As the DAWIA Program Director, Dr. Fenner ensured SPAWAR’s 4,200 acquisition workforce members met Department of Defense, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development & Acquisition and Director, Acquisition Career Management’s training policies, goals, guidelines and standards. He was also accountable for researching, developing and implementing the command’s leadership development program. Dr. Fenner is currently serving as SPAWAR’s Director for Strategic Business Transformation.
Dr. Fenner is affiliated with organizations such as San Diego Defense & Space Technology Consortium (DEFCOMM), National Defense and Industrial Association (NDIA), Arm Forced Communication and Electronic Association (AFECA), United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA); and formerly Healthcare Information Management System Society (HIMSS), Poway Unified School District Diversity Task Force, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Agency Alliance Association. In addition, for several years, he served as a Lecturer in the Business College at San Diego State University in which he taught classes related to Human Resource Management, Performance Management, Employee Selection Process, & Employment Law.
Dr. Fenner holds Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Computer Resources and Information Systems Management, and a Doctoral degree in Leadership and Education Sciences from the University of San Diego. He is a certified Contracting Officer’s Representative and Defense Acquisition Level III Certified in Information Technology from the Defense Acquisition University; and is Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation Level III certified.
Dr. Fenner pioneered the first research study on succession planning in the Department of the Navy titled, “Linking Succession Planning to Employee Training: A Study of Federal Employees.”He is currently writing three books: 1). “Succession Planning: a 450 Degree Evolution”; 2). “A Step-by-Step Succession Planning Framework”; and 3). “The Seven Ingredients Future Leaders Will Need To Be Successful: LTC³IB.” He is also in the process of retaining an engineering patent for his 360 Degree Infrared Motion Sensor Detection System.
Dr. Fenner has received numerous awards for his achievement and performance including the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal, Outstanding Performance and Leadership Awards. Dr. Fenner is married to Jacqueline, and has two children, Andrea and Brandon. His hobbies are running, cycling, swimming, weightlifting and reading.