After 30 plus years in public service, one of the Pentagon’s top IT acquisition executives plans to retire from Federal service.
Ruth Youngs Lew, the Department of the Navy’s program executive officer (PEO) for digital and enterprise services, will be departing from Federal services on May 31, according to an announcement on her LinkedIn page.
“My decision was a difficult one, but after over 30 years of rewarding service, it is time for me to focus on my family and loved ones,” Youngs Lew said in her announcement. “It has been an honor to support our Navy and Marine Corps missions by delivering the capabilities our Warfighters require, and it has been a pleasure to serve among the finest professionals throughout my career.”
Youngs Lew capped off her lengthy career in public service as the Navy’s first-ever digital and enterprise services PEO. For the last few years, she has overseen key IT modernization efforts across the department, including platform application services, digital workplace services, infrastructure services, cybersecurity and operational services, end-user services, and public safety systems.
“The past seven years as Program Executive Officer for Enterprise Information Systems and PEO for Digital and Enterprise Services were an amazing and transformative journey,” Youngs Lew said.
Notably during her tenure, Youngs Lew helped establish the department’s Neptune Cloud Management Office to help centralize and streamline the acquisition and delivery of cloud capabilities across the sea services.
Before that Youngs Lew led the Navy’s PEO for enterprise information systems – which was dismantled to stand up the PEO Digital and program executive office for manpower, logistics, and business solutions.
She also served as the executive director for communications and information systems and chief information officer for the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and executive director for program executive office for command, control, communications, and computers, among other positions.
No details have been released by the Navy on who will take over for Youngs Lew.
