pruitt_biography

Ted E. Pruitt, CDR, USN (ret)

Ted Pruitt was born and grew up in the southern part of West Virginia. he joined the Navy at Ashland, Kentucky and entered the Nuclear Submarine Enlisted Training pipeline in June 1964. He attended boot camp, Machinist Mate ‘A’ School, and several other Navy schools during the first two years of his enlistment.

In June 1966, he reported aboard the USS ATULE (SS 403) for duties in the engine room for two months while waiting for the USS JOHN C. CALHOUN (SSBN 630) to return from patrol. He came aboard the CALHOUN on the Blue crew in September and served the next six years aboard. During this tour, he served in M division and also performed duties as Engineering Laboratory Technician (ELT). He advanced from MM3 to MMC in his 74 months aboard.

In late 1972, Ted attended Instructor school at Norfolk, Virginia and went on to teach Radiological Controls and Secondary Chemistry to students at the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Training Center in Charleston, South Carolina.

In a short time, he was selected for the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) and he attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee for four years while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1977.

Ted then reported to New London, CT for Submarine Officers Basic Course for four months at NAVSUBSCOL followed by another four months as Submarine Squadron Twelve Assistant Material Officer where he worked on issues relating to getting the SSN fleet underway – on time.

In 1978, Ted was ordered to Naval Guided Missile School in Dam Neck, Virginia as a student in the Strategic Weapons Officer’s course. Upon completion of the training, he reported to USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON (SSBN 617) as the Assistant Weapons Officer. He made four deterrent patrols aboard HAMILTON and was transferred back to SUBSCHOOL as the head of the Strategic Weapons Division and Strategic Targeting Instructor for two more years.

He then attended both the Submarine Officer Advanced Course (six months) in New London and the Strategic Navigation Officer Course (three months) down in Dam Neck .

After the training, Ted reported to USS LAFAYETTE (SSBN 616) while the ship was undergoing a yard period. Once completed, the LAFAYETTE made three patrols with Ted as Navigator.

In 1984, he was accepted to Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA to study engineering science, weapons engineering, physics, and aeronautical engineering. He received a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science. He did his thesis work in solid rocket propellants in preparation for his next tour.

In 1987, Ted was assigned to the Navy Technical Field Office in Sunnyvale, CA for three years as the Head, Navy Technical Representative Office at the Westinghouse factory site for the SWS Launcher System.

In July 1990, Ted went back to the classroom when he was transferred to Defense Management College Program Managers Course at Fort Belvoir, VA. From here he was assigned as Technical Branch Staff at the Strategic Systems Programs Office in Arlington, VA. Ted was promoted to the Head of Launcher and then Navigation Technical Branches.

In April 1994, he retired from the Navy as a Commander with 30 years service.

Ted went to work as a civilian as a Reliability Manager and Senior Systems Engineer for the American Systems Corporation.

In January 1995, he joined Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. and became the Vice President and Acquisition Group Management Leader in 2000.

In 2006 Ted joined Enterprise Information Services (EIS), Vienna, Virginia as the Vice President of Navy Programs where he continues to support the Department of Navy Strategic System Programs providing management consulting services to the Trident Missile subsystem technical branches on acquisition and program management matters.