UNH was honored to welcome Rear Admiral John P. Neagley '82 to campus recently when he was in New Hampshire for the commissioning of the USS Manchester. Neagley, who graduated with a degree in zoology, toured UNH’s new John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center and the Chase Ocean Engineering Laboratory before having lunch in Thompson Hall with Jan Nisbet, Wayne Jones, Jon Wraith, Glenn Shwaery, Mark Milutinovich, Bob McGrath and Tom Cronin and learning about UNH’s Navy-funded research and analytics and data science programs and partnerships.
Following graduation from UNH, Neagley received his commission from Officer Candidate School then went on to earn a Master of Science in Environmental Management from Duke University, a Master of Science in Financial Management from the Naval Post Graduate School and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval Command and Staff College.
He served at sea during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Desert Fox, and ashore in the Pentagon and several major Navy commands in California and Washington D.C., among other assignments.
Neagley is now the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants and manages a team of 200+ people at the Washington Navy Yard. He also manages the Navy's development and acquisition of maritime robotics systems, mine warfare systems, anti-submarine sensors and weapons and other shipborne technologies.
Although the Edison, New Jersey native has come a distance from his days on UNH’s campus, he credits the university with giving him the foundation to build a successful career. Back on campus, he was impressed by the university's advanced research technology and vigorous commitment to drive innovation, and the possibilities both offers for students and external partners.
“Take this time to find out what you’re passionate about, then go all in to pursue that passion and surround yourself with people who share that passion,” he says when asked what advice he has for students. “Every great accomplishment we achieve, we achieve mostly as a team.”
You can listen to the full podcast here.
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Written By:
Sarah Schaier | College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
