Speakers

Professor Samara Firebaugh has served in the role of Academic Dean and Provost since July, 2023. Dr. Firebaugh graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1995. She received her Masters and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997 and 2001, respectively, both also in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Firebaugh’s area of scholarship is microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and particularly in integrated sensors and micro robotics.

Dr. Firebaugh joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at USNA in 2001, and has served in several roles at USNA including Vice President of the Faculty Senate, Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and most recently the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. She was the 2014 recipient of the Class of 1951 Civilian Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2012 recipient of the Raouf Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching. She received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2014, and was appointed a Senior Member of IEEE in 2017.

The Honorable Paul M. Dabbar served as the Department’s fourth Under Secretary for Science. He served as the Department’s principal advisor on fundamental energy research, energy technologies, and science, driving this mission through programs including nuclear and high energy particle physics, basic energy, advanced computing, fusion, and biological and environmental research, and direct management over a majority of the Department’s national labs and their world-leading user facilities. In addition, Mr. Dabbar managed the environmental and legacy management missions of the Department, addressing the U.S. legacy of nuclear weapons production and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. In addition, Mr. Dabbar is the lead for technology commercialization activities for the Department and its 17 national labs.

During his time in government service, Mr. Dabbar has traveled to both the North and South Poles. He traveled to the North Pole by submarine to conduct environmental research while in the Navy, and to the South Pole in support of high energy physics astronomy missions by the Department at South Pole Station.

Prior to confirmation as Under Secretary for Science, Mr. Dabbar worked in operations, finance, and strategy roles in the energy sector. As a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, leading various energy business areas, he has over $400 billion in investment experience across all energy sectors including solar, wind, geothermal, distributed-generation, utility, LNG, pipeline, oil & gas, trading, and energy technologies, and has also led the majority of all nuclear transactions. In addition, he had a senior leadership role for the company’s commodity trading business, including power, oil and gas.

Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Dabbar served as a nuclear submarine officer in Mare Island, California, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He also served on the Department of Energy Environmental Management Advisory Board. He has been a lecturer at the U.S. Naval Academy, and conducted research at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Dabbar received a B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, and a masters degree from Columbia University. Mr. Dabbar and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of two children.

Lieutenant General Borgschulte graduated from the Naval Academy in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Oceanography. Following graduation, 2ndLt Borgschulte earned his jump wings at the Army’s Airborne Course, graduated from The Basic School (TBS) with distinction, completed flight training in Pensacola, and was designated a Naval Aviator in Sep 1993.

After completing initial training in the AH-1W, he was assigned to HMLA-169 where he deployed to Okinawa, Japan and promoted to Captain in Pohang, Korea. He was then assigned to HMM-161 (REIN) and deployed in support of 15th MEU(SOC). Upon return from a WESTPAC deployment, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) also serving as the 1/5 Battalion OPSO. He was assigned to HMLA-369 in 1998, attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, and deployed to Okinawa in support of UDP. He promoted to Major in 2001 and was assigned to HMM-263(REIN), where he deployed with 31st MEU(SOC) as the Tactics & Future OPSO.

Following deployment, he reported to I MEF Special Operations Training Group as the Air Officer & OPSO, and in 2003 deployed with HMLA-369 ISO IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) I. Maj Borgschulte was then assigned to HMLA-169 and again deployed in support of OIF 05-07.1 as the OPSO & Executive Officer. Subsequently, he was promoted to LtCol and assigned to Naval Central Command in Bahrain for one year unaccompanied as the MEU and Carrier lead planner. In Bahrain, was selected for Command of HMLA-367 and led his Marines on a 7-month Afghanistan deployment to Camp Bastion & Dwyer, fighting in the Battle for Marjah and Now Zad.

He was selected for Top Level School at the Naval War College graduating with distinction and earning a Master of Arts degree in National Security & Strategic Studies. His next assignment was as Division Chief, Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Tampa, Florida, and selected to attend Stanford University’s Executive Leadership course. He was promoted to Colonel in 2013 and selected to Command MAG-39. Post Command selected for BGen and served as the AWC for 3d MAW for two years followed by duty on the Joint Staff J-3 as Deputy Director for Ops in the National Military Command Center.

Following his Pentagon tour he served as Director, Manpower Management, Manpower & Reserve Affairs and was promoted to MajGen in 2021. In 2023, he served as Commanding General, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing aboard MCAS Miramar. He was promoted to LtGen in 2024 and assumed the role as Deputy Commandant, Manpower & Reserve Affairs.

Borgschulte assumed duties as the 66th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy on August 15, 2025.

Awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/two gold stars, 14 Strike/Flight Air Medals for combat ops in Iraq & Afghanistan, individual Air Medal for personal action in Afghanistan, Joint Commendation Medal w/gold star, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/two gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/one gold star.

He has amassed 3,800 flight hours including nearly 1,000 Night Vision Goggle hours & over 700 combat hours in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Hon. Gibson C. Armstrong is the president of Phase Meridian, which facilitates UK-US deep tech collaboration. He lives in the UK, where he moved to help his wife start a venture-backed quantum computing company.

Other career highlights include:

• US Naval Academy graduate (Division I crew).
• Marine Artillery Officer. Served in Somalia and Japan. Ran a $60 million logistics budget. Led a global airborne rapid reaction combat team of 160 Marines.
• Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Appropriations Committee. Secretary, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority
• Senior Executive, BlueStar Energy. Exited the company after successful sale to American Electric.
• Director of Corporate Engagement, Temple University
• Vice President, Corporate Banking, Bank of America. Led a national team that managed $1B in covid-related loans.