Joel C. Spangenberg

Last Name: Spangenberg

First Name: Joel

ACNSL Offices and Committees:

• National Security and the All-Volunteer Force

• Alliances and Partnerships

• Environment and Polar Security

Rank: Senior Executive Service

Branch: U.S. Selective Service System

Last or Significant Assignment: Acting Director of the U.S. Selective Service System

Medals and Honors:

• Distinguished Service Silver Award- National Nuclear Security Administration

• Distinguished Service Award (Gold Medal)- U.S. Selective Service System

• Meritorious Service Medal - U.S. Navy

Areas of Expertise:

• Defense Readiness

• Naval Operations

• Nuclear Energy

• Innovation

• Government Affairs

Publications:

• America's Maritime Nuclear Future: Building the Ecosystem

• The Maritime Action Plan could be a platform for nuclear innovation at sea

• Innovation through Agile Government at the Selective Service System

• How Intergovernmental Partnerships Advance Defense Readiness through the Selective Service System

Joel C. Spangenberg is a former federal agency head and member of the Senior Executive Service who has led organizations and advised senior decision-makers across the fields of national security, nuclear energy, advanced energy technologies, and infrastructure. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Severn Readiness, a strategic advisory firm that helps organizations navigate the intersection of technology, government, and strategic investment.

Throughout his career, Mr. Spangenberg has focused on strengthening national readiness by connecting public institutions, industry, and emerging technologies to address complex strategic challenges. His work has consistently centered on helping organizations translate innovative ideas into practical, durable capabilities that advance the nation’s long-term security and resilience.

Most recently, Mr. Spangenberg served in the assistant secretary-level role of Acting Director of the U.S. Selective Service System. Earlier in his federal career, he served as the inaugural Executive Director of Operations at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Deputy Associate Administrator for External Affairs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, Associate Director of Governmental Affairs at Naval Reactors, and Deputy Staff Director and Professional Staff Member for a United States Senate subcommittee, where he led legislative and congressional oversight initiatives.

In the private sector, Mr. Spangenberg served as U.S. Country Head and Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for CORE POWER, where he helped shape the emerging U.S. maritime nuclear sector and advanced national strategy and policy related to nuclear technologies and maritime industrial capacity.

Mr. Spangenberg is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear). He graduated With Distinction from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering and earned master’s degrees in Engineering Management, Administrative Leadership, and National Security and Strategic Studies.

He currently serves as Senior Fellow for Nuclear Energy and Strategic Infrastructure at the American Council for Capital Formation and is a Veterans Advanced Energy Fellow with the Atlantic Council. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear Power. He is a member of the American Nuclear Society, Senior Executives Association, and American Legion, and is a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.