John D. Butler, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired), currently serves as a Senior Fellow of Strategic Studies (SFSS) at the International Strategic Studies Association College of Fellows, Alexandria, Virginia, and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN), Sydney, Australia. 

John retired from Lockheed Martin Corporation in October 2015, after completing a 10-year career as a Vice President in two business areas for the Corporation. His last 7 years at Lockheed Martin were spent at Space Systems Company as Vice President for Naval Strategic Systems supporting the U. S. Navy and the UK Royal Navy. Prior to that, he completed a 31-year career in the U. S. Navy as a Submariner and Engineering Duty Officer (Submarines), retiring in September 2005. His three flag officer assignments were: Program Executive Officer Submarines; Commander Naval Undersea Warfare Center; and Naval Sea Systems Command Deputy Commander for Undersea Technology. He received his commission via the Navy Nuclear Power Officer Candidate Program in 1974.

A native of Texas City, Texas, he received his BS Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 and his MS Engineering Acoustics from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1986. He is also a 1998 MPE graduate of the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. 

John received the CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his support to the Royal Navy’s submarine flotilla. In 2014, he was selected as a University of Texas at Austin NROTC Distinguished Alumnus. He was inducted into the University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences Hall of Honor as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2015. His military awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (3 awards), in addition to other service and unit awards. 

John served as a member of the UT Commission of 125 (2002-2004). He joined the CNS Advisory Council in 2004 and has served as Task Force lead, Vice Chair, Chair and Senior Advisor. He is a life member of the Texas Exes Ex-Students Association and holds a commission as an Admiral in the Texas Navy. 

John’s wife of 46 years is Commander Eileen Butler, Navy Nurse Corps (Retired).