Home » Our People » Rear Admiral Mack Gaston, USN (ret)
Rear Admiral Mack Gaston, USN (ret)
Name: Rear Admiral Mack Gaston, USN (ret)
Agency/Branch:
- USN
Position(s):
- -
Biography:
Mack C. Gaston had a distinguished military career for 31 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1995 after achieving the rank of Rear Admiral. Following his military career, Mr. Gaston has also had a successful business career in positions of executive corporate leadership including business development, strategic planning and global client relations.
In 1995, Mr. Gaston joined Waste Management, Inc. (1995-1998) as Vice President of Leadership Development. He created and implemented executive development programs across North America, the United Kingdom and Sweden. He coordinated implementation of the programs to align the company’s strategies, organization and culture.
In March 1998, Mr. Gaston joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as a member of the Human Resources Business Transformation Team. In March 1999, he became a member of the Executive Development Team, and in May 1999, promoted to Director, Professional and Technical Training for all (120,000) EDS employees worldwide. In May 2000, he was promoted to Vice President Global Defense, responsible for establishing client relationships with defense agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense. In March 2003, Mr. Gaston became Client Industry Executive, U.S. Government Solutions for the U.S Navy and Marine Corps.
While serving in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Gaston was Base Commander of the Naval Training Base at Great Lakes, Illinois from 1992-1995. As such, he was responsible for a base staff of 30,000 people and training for 40,000 students per year. During his tenure as Base Commander, he introduced instructional technology, which increased the student success rate from less than 50% to 85%. He also developed and implemented the growth plan to extend the Base; the $200 million project was completed on time and 2% under budget.
Admiral Gaston was Commander of the Defense Nuclear Agency, Nuclear Test Organization, the largest single program in that agency for two years from 1990-1992. He changed methods to improve efficiency, doubling the number of tests performed. In addition, he improved the measurement of nuclear weapons stockpile management accuracy and the responsiveness while reducing the emergency verification response time by 50%.
As a member of the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group, Admiral Gaston provided perspective on the organizational implications of proposed solutions to operational efficiency and national security into the future. He conducted the concluding briefing of our Middle East Strategy to the Chief of Naval Operations in 1989. This strategy was used by Naval Forces in the Gulf War (1988-1989).
Admiral Gaston was Director of Manpower and Training Requirements for surface ships for the Chief of Naval Operations from 1989-1990, managing a $1 billion budget. In 1988, he was Director of Manpower and Personnel Requirements for the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Region. Prior to that position, he served as Commanding Officer of three ships, the USS Cone (DD 866), the USS Cochran (DDG 21) and the USS Josephus Daniels (CG 27).
Admiral Gaston is active in a number of organizations including the Board of Trustees of Benedictine University, Board of Directors of the Military Officers Association of America, Member of the Executive Committee of the Navy League of the United States, Board of Directors of the Navy Historical Foundation, Board of Directors of the Tredegar National Civil War Center Foundation, Honorary Chairman of the National Naval Officers Association Washington DC Chapter and Member of the Executive Committee of the national organization, Board Member of the Secretary of the Navy Subcommittee on Naval History, and a member of the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association, Naval War College Foundation, Government Electronic and Industrial Association, National Defense Industrial Association, and the Surface Navy Association. His academic credentials include an MBA from Marymount University and BS in Commercial Electronics from Tuskegee University.
Areas of Expertise: