Serving as a founding member of the UTIC Board of Directors, Proffitt supported UTIC through a period of significant growth over its first decade.

During Proffitt’s tenure, UTIC has facilitated over 100 prototype projects and $1.5 billion in total prototype project funding to industry and awarded over $150,000 in scholarship funding to the next generation of undersea professionals.

Proffitt concludes a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in project management and defense business development. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Defense Business Development at Purvis Systems, where she spent more than 15 years helping grow the company’s role in supporting the US defense community.

“Debbie is an extraordinary leader and advocate for UTIC and our members with her steady focus, strategic insights, and unwavering commitment to collaboration,” said UTIC CEO Molly Donohue Magee. “On behalf of our Board and members, I thank Debbie for her dedicated service and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”

Proffitt recently retired to St. John, US Virgin Islands, where she now dedicates her time to community volunteerism, including a focus on sea turtle conservation.

Following Proffitt’s retirement, the UTIC Board of Directors elected Donald McCormack as its new Board Chair.

McCormack, senior consultant to McLaughlin Research Corporation, brings more than 40 years of experience supporting the Navy’s research, development, acquisition, and technology communities, including serving as the Executive Director of the Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers.

He has received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Distinguished Civilian Award by the Naval Submarine League for his lifetime commitment to the submarine force.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the UTIC Board of Directors,” said McCormack. “Over the past decade, UTIC has become a catalyst for collaboration across all sectors of the undersea community. I look forward to working with Molly and the Board to continue building UTIC for the next decade.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Don as our new Board Chair. He has been a valued member of the Board for many years and is widely respected throughout the undersea technology community,” Magee said. “Don and our entire board of directors represent decades of leadership, strategic insight, and commitment to advancing innovation, and all are exceptionally positioned to help guide UTIC into its second decade.”

UTIC’s Board of Directors brings together senior leaders from across the undersea technology ecosystem, including Arcfield (formerly Rite Solutions), General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences, HII Uncrewed Systems, McLaughlin Research Corporation, MIKEL, Purvis Systems, RTX, Saab Inc., SEACORP, ThayerMahan, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, reflecting the depth, breadth, and innovative power of the national undersea tech community.