Retired Navy Four-Star Admiral Has Experience with Defense, Security, Strategy, and Infrastructure Issues
The Potomac Institute welcomes ADM Robert J. Natter, (USN, Ret.), as a member of the Board of Regents and as a Senior Fellow.
ADM Natter is President of R.J. Natter & Associates, LLC, a nationwide consulting and advocacy firm specializing in corporate and defense strategy. Clients have included the State of Florida Governor’s Office; McDonald's Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corp; Microsoft Corp; IBM Corp; DLA Piper Rudnick US LLP; Vornado Realty Trust; Embraer North America; Sumitomo North America; and myriad other U.S. and international corporations.
Admiral Natter is Chairman of the Board of G4S Government Solutions (GS), a premier U.S. provider of security and infrastructure support solutions for customers with complex requirements in highly regulated industries. G4S GS is a U. S. government security-cleared commercial nuclear security business and is an independent operating unit of G4S plc. He also serves on the Board of Directors of BAE Systems, Inc, a U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc.
Mike Swetnam, Potomac Institute’s CEO and Chairman, welcomed the experience and leadership ADM Natter brings to the Science and Technology Policy-focused think tank.
“As we start another year filled with challenges and opportunities facing our government, the defense arena, global security and more, having ADM Natter’s depth of knowledge and experience will enable us to ensure our work reflects the best that is known on the subjects we so carefully research and write about,” Swetnam said. “We are fortunate to have the skills and expertise of this respected military leader as we delve further into serious issues that are the topics of debates at the highest levels."
In 2003, Admiral Natter completed a distinguished 41-year Navy career as Commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the first Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the first Commander of all U.S. Navy and Coast Guard homeland defense forces under the newly created Northern Command, and the Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Western Atlantic Command. At that time the Atlantic Fleet consisted of over 160,000 Sailors and Marines, 162 ships and 1,200 aircraft, as well as 18 major shore stations.
Admiral Natter’s military decorations include the Silver Star Medal, four awards of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and the Purple Heart among others. His personal honors include the 1998 Order of the Rising Sun Medal by the Emperor of Japan; the 1998 Order of National Security Medal from the President of the Republic of Korea; the 2003 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the 2004 Distinguished Sea Service Leader of the Year by the Naval Order of the United States. Natter has earned Masters degrees in Business Management and International Relations, and he is the fifth recipient of the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.
In 2012 Natter assumed Chairmanship of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees, representing about 55,000 living graduates. He is also on the Board of the National Navy SEAL Museum.