PETER KAROUNOS is a senior executive leader in the Defense industry with over 40 years of government and industry experience. He is highly regarded for his strategic vision, leadership, and managing complex defense programs. He brings dynamic and collaborative abilities to solve problems and consults in various defense areas such as shipbuilding and industrial base, nuclear submarine acquisition, and complex defense systems and weapons. Has led acquisition, research, design, and technology development, supply, logistics and sustainment on various US and international programs such as NATO and AUKUS. Mr. Karounos has served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Vice President of the United States, worked on Capitol Hill as a Congressional staffer, and in multiple senior positions within the Department of the Navy. Mr. Karounos is a first-generation Greek American who grew up in New York City attending the Greek Orthodox Parochial schools. As a teen, he moved and lived in Athens, Greece and graduated from the American Community Schools. He has been involved in the Greek American community as volunteer and parish council member at the St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA. He has volunteered and supported many Hellenic initiatives including efforts with AHI and many national and local Greek American organizations. Mr. Karounos holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in Management from George Washington University, and completed the Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School.