James Geurts

Colonel James “Hondo” Geurts (USAF Retired) worked in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, serving as the acting under secretary from February 2021 until retiring in August 2021. In this role, Geurts was the Navy’s number two civilian, serving as the main assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and functioning as the chief operating officer for the branch. Prior to this role, Geurts served as the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, where he had “oversight of an annual budget in excess of $100 billion and [was] responsible for equipping and supporting the finest Sailors and Marines in the world with the best platforms, systems and technology.”

In September 2021, Geurts joined the advisory board of Silicon Valley Defense Group (SVDG), a hub for convening companies supporting the U.S. defense industrial base. SVDG’s founding funders include major defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, SAIC, and Microsoft. “No one is better than Hondo Geurts at knowing the system,” SVDG advisory board member and former House Armed Services Committee Chairman William M. “Mac” Thornberry (R-TX) said in a press release announcing the move. “He brings an insider’s knowledge with an outsider’s push for getting results.”

In October 2021, Geurts joined the strategic advisory board of Intellisense Systems, Inc., a firm that designs and develops flood sensors, meteorological stations, and avionics displays. In a company press release, Intellisense president and CEO Frank Willis touted Geurts’ “experience in technology acquisitions” and his “joint service perspective.” In fiscal year 2020, Intellisense Systems received over $7.4 million in contracts from the U.S. Navy.

Geurts did not respond to a request for comment.