Navy Veteran Assumes Deputy Undersecretary for Policy Post

The Department of the Navy has welcomed a new member of its leadership team.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, a past POC speaker, swore in Anne Bonfante Gebhards as deputy undersecretary of the Navy for policy on Monday, Navy .mil reported.

Gebhards said that while she has yet to find the words fitting her new position, she feels fortunate to work with experienced officers, civilians and appointees in helping the service fulfill its mission.

The military branch’s new policy lead recently served as senior adviser for international affairs, a role she assumed in 2016. She was also country director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and worked at the Department of State as a foreign affairs specialist and as a defense adviser to the special presidential envoy for arms control.

Gebhards attended the London School of Economics and Political Science, completed a postgraduate diploma in law from the University of the West of England and earned a master’s in legal studies from the University of Bristol in England.

The Navy has been active in refreshing its senior leadership structure. In November, Jane Rathbun assumed the roles of chief information officer and special assistant for information management.