Sentinel of the Sea Award Gala

Vice Admiral John Mustin is a retired U.S. Navy leader, technology executive, and experienced board director whose career spans national security, large-scale organizational leadership, technology innovation, and public service.  

During a 34-year Navy career, Mustin was selected for command six times and culminated his military service as the 15th Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, where he led 60,000 personnel worldwide and managed a $3.7 billion annual budget. A decorated veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, he made history in 2019 as the first Reserve officer to command a U.S. Navy strike group when he assumed command of Expeditionary Strike Group TWO in Little Creek, Virginia.  

Throughout his military and civilian careers, Mustin has focused on leading complex organizations and applying emerging technology to consequential operational and national security challenges. Most recently, as President of Saildrone, he helped scale one of the nation’s leading autonomous maritime defense technology companies through a period of significant revenue/bookings growth and global expansion. His work has placed him at the intersection of defense innovation, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, maritime security, and the adoption of commercial technology for government missions domestically and internationally. 

Earlier in his civilian career, Mustin held senior executive and entrepreneurial roles focused on technology, digital transformation, growth, and business strategy. Across these experiences, he developed expertise in organizational transformation, strategic planning, financial stewardship, public-private partnerships, and navigating complex government and commercial environments. 

A fifth-generation graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mustin earned a BS in Systems Engineering and later an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA, cum laude, in Finance and Management from Babson College.  

Mustin has maintained a longstanding commitment to public service, leadership development, and the military and veteran communities. An experienced board and advisory board member, early-stage investor, published author, and frequent speaker on national security, technology, leadership, and service, he brings to corporate and nonprofit boards a distinctive combination of governance experience, strategic and financial oversight, technology fluency, organizational leadership, and a commitment to mission and public service.