Vice Adm. James P. Downey was relieved of his dual-hatted role as Portfolio Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations (PAE IO) by Rear Adm. Todd Weeks and as Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) by Rear Adm. Pete Small during a joint change of office and command ceremony on the Washington Navy Yard, Aug. 6.
Admiral James W. Kilby served as the ceremony's presiding officer and highlighted Downey’s extensive contributions to fleet readiness and the Navy's acquisition enterprise.
Downey served as Commander of NAVSEA since January 2024 and was selected to serve as the inaugural PAE IO upon its establishment in March 2026. His dual-hatted tenure coincided with a major Department of the Navy initiative to reform warfighting acquisition.
The reform consolidated duties previously performed by NAVSEA and other legacy commands into empowered, single accountable executive portfolios to make disciplined, cradle-to-grave decisions across cost, schedule, and performance.
“What we do and how we treat people matters,” said Downey. “This legacy strengthens the Navy and all of us who ready the ships that our warfighters take to sea," said Downey. "So, as you press forward, set your steady course by the stars that matter most: Our Sailors our Marines, our government and industry Civilians and contractors. Set your course by our mission. It is noble and enduring.”
Rear Adm. Todd Weeks takes the helm as interim PAE IO following his recent assignment as Director, In-Service Submarines and Industrial Base for the Director Submarine Programs. His previous flag assignments include Program Executive Officer (PEO) Strategic Submarines, and PEO Undersea Warfare Systems.
As interim PAE IO, Weeks will provide unified leadership over the four Naval Shipyards and seven Regional Maintenance Centers. Serving as the Navy's single, accountable office for ship and submarine depot maintenance, PAE IO's non-negotiable mission is to deliver combat-ready ships and submarines back to the fleet on schedule.
"I am incredibly humbled to take the helm as the interim PAE IO and to build upon the foundational successes achieved under Vice Adm. Downey's leadership," said Weeks. "Our focus moving forward is on driving discipline, transparency, and predictability across our shipyards and maintenance centers. By empowering our workforce and eliminating systemic barriers, we will strengthen our industrial base to ensure we are consistently positioning our fleet for warfighting readiness."
During his tenure leading a global workforce of 90,000 personnel and managing a $55 billion annual budget, Downey championed a culture of servant leadership that broke down bureaucratic silos and drove historic improvements in fleet readiness. Under his Command, the Enterprise achieved a 30 percent increase in submarine maintenance throughput, reduced work stoppages by 40 percent, spearheaded a historic breakthrough in Navy financial auditability, and led the Navy's rapid salvage response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Following the change of office and change of command, Downey is slated to retire after 40 years of distinguished and dedicated service to the U.S. Navy.