NAVWAR, Commander
Rear Adm. Kurt J. Rothenhaus is a native of New York City, New York. He received his commission in 1992 upon graduating from the University of South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He also earned a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, transferring to the Engineering Duty Officer community in 2003. He assumed command of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) in October of 2025. His previous flag assignments include Chief of Naval Research at the Office of Naval Research from June 2023, and Program Executive Officer, Command Control Computers Communications and Intelligence (PEO C4I) from May 2020. He served as the Combat Systems/C5I officer on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Chief Engineer on USS O’Brien (DD 975). Additionally, he served on the staff of Destroyer Squadron 15 embarked USS Kitty Hawk and on USS Fife (DD 991). He completed an Individual Augmentee tour in Baghdad, Iraq. He completed numerous acquisition tours, including Program Manager for the Navy’s Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW-160) and Commanding Officer of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific. He also served as the Deputy Program Manager for the Navy Communications and GPS Program Office (PMW/A 170). Additionally, he served in various Assistant Program Manager roles in Command and Control, Battlespace Awareness, and Carrier Aviation Integration. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and various unit and sea service awards.
NAVWAR, Executive Director
Mr. Pope serves as the Executive Director for Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR). In this role, he shares responsibility for approximately 12,000 civilian and military personnel and an annual budget of more than $9 Billion, focused on the acquisition, delivery and sustainment of major command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, enterprise information, and space systems for the Department of the Navy.
Mr. Pope was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in January 2016 and began his government career in 1983.Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Pope served as Executive Director and acting Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, and Space Systems. In this capacity, he was responsible for integrating, executing, and delivering capability in an annual $4 Billion portfolio supporting information needs for naval, joint, and coalition warfighters.
Mr. Pope is a University of Pennsylvania graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Receiving his Navy commission via the University of Pennsylvania NROTC in 1983, Mr. Pope served afloat on USS Gallery (FFG-26) where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. Attending the Naval Postgraduate School, he earned a Master of Science degree with distinction in Electrical Engineering.
His ashore career experience includes significant roles in all aspects of engineering and acquisition. He was assigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command as the Test and Evaluation Officer for the joint U.S. -Australian NULKA Decoy Project. Following this tour,where he qualified as an Engineering Duty Officer, Mr. Pope served as Special Projects Officer for a CNO-directed classified program. Mr. Pope then served as Force Combat Systems Officer at Naval Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet.
Mr. Pope’s tours within NAVWAR include Joint Task Group Manager, Afloat Installations Manager and Advanced Tactical Data Link Systems Engineer in the Tactical Data Link Programs Office (PMW 159). In December 2000, Mr. Pope was selected as the Deputy Program Manager for the Navy Satellite Communications Program Office (PMW 176). After serving as the fifth Commanding Officer of Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., he returned to PEO C4Iwhere he served as the Major Program Manager of the Communications Program Office (PMW 170) and the Principal Deputy Program Executive Officer. As a plank owner of NAVWAR’s Fleet Readiness Directorate, Mr. Pope served as the Fleet Support Program Manager. After 29 years of active duty, Mr. Pope began his civilian career in 2012 as the Director for the Data Center and Application program within NAVWAR.
Mr. Pope is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and is certified Level III in Acquisition Program Management. His active duty awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Gold Star in lieu of fourth award, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of third award, Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy Unit Commendation, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Mr. Pope received the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in June 2020.
NAVWAR, Command Master Chief
Jeanette M. Hafer hails from Chicago, Illinois. In March 1998, she reported for active duty at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes Illinois. After completing boot camp, Master Chief Hafer reported to Radioman ‘A’ School at Naval Technical Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. She has served in multiple sea and shore assignments, including Commander Naval Forces Korea in Seoul, Korea, Center for Information Dominance (CID) in Norfolk, Virginia, USS EMORY S LAND (AS-39) in La Madellena, Italy, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) at Damneck, Virginia, EODMU FIVE located on Santa Rita, Guam, Expeditionary Strike Group Seven located on Okinawa, Japan as the Senior Enlisted Leader and Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. She has served as the Command Master Chief onboard USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51), Norfolk VA. Her second CMDCM tour was as a CMDCM/COB Course Facilitator at the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center, Newport RI. She then reported to COMDESRON 23, San Diego CA as their first Command Master Chief. In November of 2024 she reported to NAVWARSYSCOM, San Diego CA as their Command Master Chief. CMDCM Hafer holds a Master’s Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She is a graduate of the National Defense University Keystone Course, CMC/COB (Course 181) and the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 162). Her decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Joint Service Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation (five awards), Joint Service Achievement (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement (four awards), and other various unit and service awards. CMDCM Hafer is proudly married to Mr. Michael Johnson of Lafayette, Indiana.