Captain Kevin Behm, Commanding Officer, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport

Capt. Kevin Behm was appointed as commanding officer of NUWC Division Newport on Sept. 3, 2025.

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 with a degree in electrical engineering and holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

His sea tours include division officer assignments onboard USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), Engineer Officer onboard USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (Blue) and USS Florida (SSGN 728) (Gold), and Executive Officer onboard USS New Hampshire (SSN 778). He commanded the USS Hartford (SSN 768), where his crew earned the Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT) Shipyard Readiness Battle “E” and Hugh McCracken Leadership Award for the top performing Chiefs Mess in the Atlantic fleet.

Ashore, he served as a shift engineer at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, a Junior Board member on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board, and as the Chief of Operations for the Office of Stockpile Sustainment at the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Chris Weeks, Director of Programs, Saab, Inc.

Chris Weeks is an accomplished maritime, defense, and undersea technology executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning program leadership, unmanned and autonomous systems, undersea weapons systems, strategic business development, and international markets.

Mr. Weeks has held senior program and business leadership roles at Bluefin Robotics, Ultra Maritime, and Saab, Inc.’s Autonomous and Undersea Systems Division. Throughout his career, he has successfully led complex technology programs, strategic captures, and major U.S. and international business opportunities. He has managed approximately $150 million in direct P&L and led multi-hundred-million-dollar strategic captures. He has a proven track record of driving program execution, exceeding customer expectations, and leveraging organizational resources to deliver mission-critical capabilities while maximizing profitability and customer value.

At Saab, Mr. Weeks advances undersea autonomy and defense capabilities through diligent program execution, strategic business development, technology integration, and international collaboration. Working closely with Saab’s Swedish Underwater Systems organization, he plays a key role in translating global technologies and capabilities into executable business opportunities and innovative solutions for U.S. defense customers.

Mr. Weeks began his career as the owner and operator of a maritime business before transitioning into subsea defense program management and technology leadership. This progression has provided him with a distinctive combination of hands-on maritime experience, technical expertise, customer insight, and commercial discipline. His career reflects a consistent focus on building businesses, fostering strategic partnerships, and delivering advanced undersea capabilities to meet evolving defense requirements.

Mr. Weeks holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Michelle K. Estaphan Owen, Chief Accountability Officer for the Experimental Payload Group (EPG), Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport

Michelle K. Estaphan Owen, Chief Accountability Officer for the Experimental Payload Group (EPG), the Navy’s premier AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) technology development and operations team primarily focused on full ocean depth AUVs providing increased endurance, range, and payload capabilities for the Navy. Michelle has been in technical leadership roles for AUV projects since joining NUWCDIVNPT in October 2016. Her expertise in AUV prototype development includes working with our industry partners for PMS394, ONR, DARPA, SCO, DIU and the USMC/MCWL. Michelle has actively sponsored multiple NIUVT and NISE projects, as well as working with URI and UMASS Dartmouth on subsea robotics.

Prior to joining NUWCDIVNPT, Michelle led various research teams advancing subsea robotics technologies and capabilities. As a Technical Program Manager for Shell TechWorks (STW) in Cambridge, MA she led two AUV Leak Detection projects, introducing advanced sensors suites that were new to the oil and gas industry. Prior to STW, Michelle was a Program Manager at Bluefin Robotics, leading multiple integrated product development teams through the full product lifecycle, including a DARPA program that successfully developed and deployed the deepest rated, free flooded, AUV with a variable buoyancy system. Michelle grew her technical and leadership skills as a Principal Electrical Engineer at Raytheon, Integrated Defense Systems in multiple roles. While at Raytheon, Michelle was the lead Systems Engineer for multiple domestic and international subsea programs, working teams in Seattle, London, UK and an in-country deployment to Adelaide, Australia.

Ms. Estaphan Owen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering (BS OE) from Florida Institute of Technology in May of 1995 and a Master of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering (MS OE) from the University of Rhode Island in May 1998. She recently received a certificate from the Naval Post Graduate School in Anti-Submarine Warfare. Out of work Michelle is a passionate supporter of environmental, sustainability and recycling/reuse initiatives.

Pete Rumsey, Associate VP Economic Development, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, URI Division of Research and Economic Development, Operations Director, URI Research Foundation

At the University of Rhode Island (URI) Pete is the AVP for Economic Development, Innovation & Entrepreneurship as well as the Operations Director for URI Innovations. He focuses in both capacities to accelerate the translation of research, IP, and know-how into cutting edge innovations and high growth ventures. With more than 30 years of proven experience as a serial entrepreneur and executive across early-stage startups and Fortune 1000 companies, he specializes in power systems, information technologies, and "green & blue" tech. Pete actively bridges academia, government, and industry by leading major ocean tech initiatives to include the Office of Naval Research (ONR) funded RISE-UP program as well as the RI Grow Blue partnership. A recipient of the PBN Career Achievement Award, he is also a decorated former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, chairman emeritus of Leadership Rhode Island, co-chair of RIHub, and holds an engineering degree from Cornell University alongside executive credentials from Stanford and Harvard.