Howard Fireman
Senior Research Fellow
Howard Fireman has had a multi-decade distinguished executive maritime career both in the government and private sectors. Mr. Fireman is a highly regarded senior leader with a proven track record of success with a wide range of expertise from naval ship design and acquisition, maritime technology development to operational support/maintenance. Howard previously served as Vice Chairman of the US Department of the Navy Science and Technology Board and currently is a Senior Research Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. He was previously appointed by the Commonwealth of Australia to serve as a member of the Australian, Naval Shipbuilding Expert Advisory Panel.
From 2013 to 2021, Mr. Fireman was a C-Suite senior executive and corporate officer with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a US based ship classification society. As senior executive advisor to the ABS Chairman and CEO, he served in various capacities including President of ABS Nautical Systems enterprise Fleet Management Software Company where he turned-around an underperforming company, Chief Technology Officer, 1st corporate Chief Digital Officer, and Senior Vice President of Asset Performance Management.
Howard transitioned to ABS from the U.S. Navy, where he was recognized as a distinguished senior executive leader in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). His senior executive positions (SES) included Deputy Director Navy Programming for the Navy enterprise (Budget), Director of Surface Ship Design and US Navy Chief Naval Architect, and Director for the In-Service Submarine Program.
Prior to his SES positions, Howard served as Commander Seventh Fleet Science and Technology Officer in Yokosuka Japan, Technical Advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, Acquisition Program Manager for the $20B USS San Antonio (LPD 17) ship class program, and 7 years as Chairman NATO Maritime Capability Group on Ship Design and Mobility.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Technical Management from the Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Fireman has served on academic boards of four universities. Mr. Fireman is the recipient of multiple government and industry awards, including U.S. Government Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive Federal Service and Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
Mr. Fireman has an active US Top Secret Security Clearance.
