All Things of Interest to the Government Contracting Community
Vice Admiral Lou Crenshaw, CDFM United States Navy (Retired)
Rear Admiral Bryan P. Cutchen, United States Navy (Retired)
Vice Admiral Lou Crenshaw, CDFM United States Navy (Retired) is the Founder and President of Crenshaw Consulting Associates LLC. Lou has a record of almost four decades of proven executive success in a broad range of leadership positions in the public and private sectors. Lou has extensive experience in reorganization and realignment of large organizations with emphasis on financial issues and cross-functional alignment.
Lou’s vision for CCA is to deliver C-Suite-level consulting services to commercial and government clients by providing advice and counsel in strategic planning, executive coaching and organizational restructuring. CCA also provides assistance in capture management, client relationships and market analysis for commercial clients. The firm additionally provides due diligence and pipeline/contract analysis services to private equity investors.
Lou retired from partnership at Grant Thornton, LLP in 2013, where he was the Principal with responsibility for the firm’s national Aerospace and Defense practice, coordinating the delivery of tax, audit and business advisory services to over 50 clients. Prior to this role, Lou served as the partner responsible for the Defense and Intelligence practice within the Global Public Sector of Grant Thornton, where he had experience managing and directing Defense/Intel teams throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies, military services and national intelligence agencies. Significant engagements included U.S. Marine Corps Audit, Washington Headquarters Service advisory services, Defense Logistics Agency A76/MEO support, Missile Defense Agency accounting support, Navy BRAC support and numerous strategic sourcing efforts throughout DOD.
During his over 30 years of service in the United States Navy, he commanded a Medium Attack Squadron (VA-85), a Carrier Air Wing (CVW-1) and an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (John F. Kennedy Strike Group/ Carrier Group SIX). Lou is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and an experienced test project engineer at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD. As a Flag Officer, he specialized in financial operations and budgeting, serving three tours of duty in the Navy’s N-8 Programming and Budgeting Directorate, culminating his career as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements and Assessments (N8). Additionally he served as the Commander of U.S. Navy Activities, Europe where he commanded all Naval Bases located in Europe.
Lou was selected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in 2011. Established in 1967 and chartered by Congress, NAPA is a non-profit, independent coalition of top public management and organizational leaders who tackle the nation’s most critical and complex challenges.
Lou continues to be active in several trade organizations and professional societies, including TECHAMERICA, where is a past Chairman of the Defense Committee. He also donates his time to the American Society of Military Comptrollers as the Program Chairman for the National Capital Region Professional Development Institute.
Lou is involved in the leadership of several non-profit organizations. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation, an organization providing support to the Navy and Coast Guard wounded warriors, and those who are seriously injured on active duty or seriously ill. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Association of the United States Navy. Lou additionally serves on the Board of the Fund for Charitable Giving, an affiliate of the National Presbyterian Church located in Washington, DC. He is on the Executive Advisory Board of Mission Readiness, an organization dedicated to improving pre-school education for America’s future leaders and serves on the National Security Advisory Council of the US Global Leadership Coalition, a non-partisan advocate for a strong international affairs budget as a matter of national security. Lou and Marilyn Crenshaw reside in McLean, VA. They have two adult children, Lew and Lauren and a host of grandchildren. Lou and Marilyn spend their free time in Weems, VA and are frequent visitors to the local golf courses.
Professional qualifications and memberships:
Certified Defense Financial Manager
Former Chairman of the TechAmerica Defense Committee
National Academy of Public Administration (Fellow)
Chairman, Navy Safe Harbor Foundation Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board and Lifetime Benefactor, Association of the United States Navy
National Security Advisory Council, US Global Leadership Coalition
Executive Advisory Board, Mission Readiness
Reston Chamber of Commerce
American Society of Military Comptrollers
Association of Government Accountants
National Defense Industrial Association (Life Member)
National Contract Management Association
U.S. Naval Institute
U. S. Naval Academy Alumni Association (Life Member)
Military Officers Association of America (Life Member)
Association of Naval Aviation
Tailhook Association
Education:
U. S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, MD
B.S in Ocean Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy
Trainings and certifications
Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)
Graduate, Federal Executive Development Program
Black Sea Executive Program, Harvard University
Executive Business Course, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Innovation in Business Program, Babson College
Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership
Capstone Course, National Defense University
Pinnacle Course, National Defense University
Expert Witness
Clearance:
Top Secret/SBI
Military service: U.S. Navy, 1970 – 2007
Rear Adm. Cutchen served over 30 years in the Navy, retiring in 2014. Bryan is the founder and principal of Cutchen Consulting and Communications LLC, a firm focused on defense, organizational management and communications & marketing. Bryan also flew as a commercial pilot for Delta Air Lines and PSA Airlines in 2017-2018.
Prior to his retirement from the Navy in 2014, he commanded Navy Reserve Forces Command from August 2012 to September 2014. He was responsible for Navy Reserve budgeting and operations, personnel readiness and for sourcing Navy mobilization requirements as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations and U. S. Fleet Forces Command.
Bryan’s flying assignments include multiple E-2C Hawkeye squadron tours. He commanded Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 from August 2005 to July 2008. From 1998 to 2001 he commanded VAW-77, a special mission counter narcotics squadron supporting United States Southern Command.
Staff and shore assignments included two tours assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff in the Pentagon; duty as deputy commander, Naval Air Force Reserve in San Diego, CA; and as deputy commander for the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve from July 2010 to July 2012.
He has amassed over 5,000 hours in the various aircraft including the E-2C Hawkeye, C-2A Greyhound, F-18A+ Hornet and commercial aircraft. He is entitled to wear the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and several other commendations and awards.
Bryan past and current board service includes the Maine Turnpike Authority, Veteran’s Count and the Association of the United States Navy. He belongs to numerous professional organizations such as the Naval Institute, Project Management Institute, Tailhook Association, Association of Naval Aviation, Military Officers Association of America and the International City/County Management Association.
Calling Brunswick, Maine home, Bryan graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science and is a Wall of Honor recipient. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies from Air War College. He is married to artist Terrilyn “Sissy” Rosenberg Cutchen and they have two children, Lieutenant Max Cutchen, USN