Dan Packer

Mr. Dan Packer serves as the Director, AUKUS for Commander, Submarine Forces. As the COMSUBFOR Director, he is responsible:

• For training Royal Australian Navy personnel in the operations of conventionally armed nuclear powered submarine under AUKUS Pillar 1.
• For AUKUS Pillar 2, he serves as the US lead for the Advanced Capability Undersea Warfare Working Group.
• As Lead for the COMSUBFOR Undersea Hybrid Fleet Executive Steering Group.

A native of Barnwell, SC, Mr. Packer graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science in May 1992.  After completing basic submarining and nuclear pipeline training, he reported to USS L. MENDEL RIVERS (SSN 686) at Charleston, SC.

Follow-on at sea assignment included Engineer Officer aboard USS OHIO (SSBN 726), (BLUE), Executive Officer aboard USS SPRINGFIELD (SSN 761), and

Commanding Officer USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21). While at sea, Mr. Packer conducted 3 deployments and 5 strategic deterrent patrols.

Ashore, Mr. Packer has served on the Fleet Forces Command Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board, Operations Officer in the J2 Directorate of Intelligence U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA, Branch Head in the Undersea Warfare Directorate (OPNAV N97) working on the OHIO Replacement Program and Sea Based Strategic Deterrent Initiatives, Dean, Division of Math and Science at the United States Naval Academy. Most recently, Mr. Packer served as the Director for Plans and Policy (N5) for Commander Submarine Force Atlantic, completing 31 years of active service.

He attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he received a Masters of Science degree in Systems Management with a specialty in Manpower Systems Analysis.

Mr. Packer is married to the former Lisa Ellen Meding of Phoenix, AZ.  They have two adult children and live in Virginia Beach, VA. In his off time, he makes poor attempts at woodworking foisting poorly made furniture off on his ever-patient wife and is a semi-avid gardener.