CDR Juliana R. Vida ’94, USN (Ret.)
Mid-Atlantic Region Trustee
Retired Commander, accomplished executive in business and technology, Juliana (Julie) thrives on innovation and collaboration. In her current role as Chief Technical Advisor for Splunk, a $2B software data and analytics firm, she empowers and inspires public sector leaders to make data-driven decisions that shape the future. She actively leverages her experience, relationships, and public platform through her professional role to advocate for and actively support military veterans in all stages of their career and transition out of uniform.
CDR Vida’s fervent wish is to join the Board of Trustees to directly serve ALL alumni in the concentrated Mid-Atlantic Region as the geographic representative. Having lived in various counties within Northern VA, served in the Pentagon both in uniform and as a GS-15 civilian, and traveled extensively in and around the DMV, she is keen to address the unique needs of alumni in the area. While navigating its commuting, housing, school, and other logistics challenges while simultaneously building a successful career, she continues to give her time, talent and treasure to the USNA alumni community in various ways :
• USNAAA Greater Washington Chapter’s board from 2014-2016, ascending to Vice President
• Two-time corporate sponsor of Greater Washington Chapter social events
• Class of 1994 Reunion Committee: 2009 – present
• Panel speaker in October 2020 virtual "Character of a Warfighter Alumni Fire Side Chat” Series" presented by the USNA Professional Development Department
• Active mentor in Academy Mentorship Program (50th legacy gift of Class of 59)
• Actively supports veterans at all stages in their transition from military service:
o Spoke at three Service Academy Career Conferences
o Actively participates in online veteran support and transition platforms
o Routinely gives 1:1 advice, endorse and champion, and otherwise empower veterans, including numerous USNA alumni
• Supports financially and through public endorsement a variety of alumni-owned small businesses
Her contributions to the technology and defense industries have resulted in several honors and recognitions:
• 2021: Board Advisor, California Polytechnical Institute, Master of Business Analytics program
• 2020 American Society of Naval Engineers “30 Inspirational Women”
• 2020 Washington Exec “Top 25 Cyber Executives to Watch”
• 2020 Global Touch “IT Wondrous Woman”
• 2020 Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Women’s Appreciation Award
• 2020: Board Director, AFCEA International
• 2019: Distinguished Alumni Award from Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, PA.
• 2017-present: Special Advisor to the Washington Cyber Roundtable
Juliana initially enlisted as a Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive). She graduated at the top of her class (Russian) at the Defense Language Institute, then earned a direct accession appointment to USNA. She graduated in 1994, the first class of women assigned to warfighting units after the lifting of the combat exclusion law. She served two tours as a SWO, then lateral transferred to Naval aviation and flew helicopters (CH-46, S/H/M-60). Her pivot from military aviation to technology began with an assignment to the OPNAV N2N6 staff in the Pentagon. She ultimately became the Navy’s Deputy Chief Information Officer upon her retirement as a Commander in 2012. Her highest military award is the Navy Air Medal for superior airmanship in the earliest days after 9/11 in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
She holds an MS in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego and a BS in History (Russian minor) from USNA. She is also the winner of two major televised game shows, The Wheel of Fortune and The Weakest Link.