OSU alum to be nominated assistant secretary of the Navy

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Oklahoma State University alumnus, Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic, will be nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs. Slavonic is a native Oklahoman and currently serves as chief of staff in U.S. Senator James Lankford’s office.
 
“Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic is the model of public service,” said Lankford. “He has dutifully served our nation in the Navy, and he has served the people of Oklahoma as my chief of staff. He has been nominated to serve our country again in the Department of Defense. I am very proud of his long career and dedication to this nation. Greg has been my chief of staff for three years. His leadership will be missed on our team, but he will be a tremendous asset to the Navy. I fully support his nomination and look forward to Greg continuing his distinguished career as assistant secretary of the Navy.”
 
Prior to Slavonic’s role in Lankford’s office, he was a senior leader at the Computer Sciences Corporation, where he planned and executed several nationwide U.S. Navy community outreach engagements. He also served as executive director of the Jim Thorpe Association; and as president of Flagbridge Strategic Communications, a consulting company focused on strategic communications and leadership.

Slavonic retired from the Navy following a 34-year career, which started with his enlistment as a seaman recruit. After repeatedly distinguishing himself, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. During his Navy career, he held four command assignments, served in combat deployments to Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was awarded numerous decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, and Combat Action Ribbon.

Slavonic earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in education from the University of Central Oklahoma.