VADM Mathias W. Winter

Vice Admiral Mathias W. Winter, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II

Vice Admiral Mat Winter, a 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and was designated a naval flight officer in 1985.

Winter served operational tours as an A-6E Intruder Bombardier/Navigator with Attack Squadrons 42, 85 and 34 making multiple deployments aboard aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV 60), USS America (CV 66), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Winter’s acquisition tours include assistant deputy program manager (DPM) for the Joint Standoff Weapon System; chief engineer for JSF Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control; DPM for the Tactical Tomahawk All-Up-Round development program; chief of staff to the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Tactical Aircraft Programs; and his major acquisition command tour as the Precision Strike Weapons (PMA-201) program manager.

Winter has served flag tours as the commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake/Point Mugu, CA, assistant commander for Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command, PEO for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, Director, Innovation Technology Requirements and Test & Evaluation, Chief of Naval Research, and most recently, Deputy Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lighting II Joint Program Office. In May 2017, he became the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35A/B/C, the next-generation strike aircraft weapon system for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and many allied nations.

Winter holds a master’s degree in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School and another in national resource strategy from National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and a Level III certification in Program Management and Test & Evaluation from the Defense System Management College.

His personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Joint Service Achievement Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Air Force Acquisition Excellence Award, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and various unit and sea service awards.