Bio

Commander Sean L. Ponder, USN (Retired), is an Adjunct Instructor in the Engineering Management Department at The Catholic University of America (CUA) — a program from which he is a proud graduate. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Professor Ponder served over 22 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-trained submarine officer.His military service includes various active duty and reserve assignments in the Submarine Force, NATO, Naval Research Enterprise, and joint assignments. 

Following his active-duty career, CDR Ponder joined Lockheed Martin, where he held progressive leadership roles in strategy and business development spanning undersea warfare systems, military healthcare, and homeland security portfolios. He later transitioned to the private sector real estate and construction industry, serving as Senior Vice President of Acquisition and Development for at D.C.-based development firm, where he led an in-house general contracting division and managed a $300 million construction and development portfolio of residential and commercial projects. He currently serves as Project Executive and DC Market Lead at Harkins Builders, where he leads efforts across affordable housing, public sector, higher education, and private development in the Washington, D.C. market.

He brings to the classroom a unique combination of military leadership, corporate strategy, and hands-on construction management experience, offering students a practitioner's perspective on organizational behavior, project delivery, and engineering leadership. He holds a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and an M.S. in Engineering Management from The Catholic University of America.