Dr. Raymond O’Toole was appointed Principal Deputy Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) on February 16, 2020. In this capacity, he is the principal staff assistant to the Director for all functional areas assigned to the office. He participates in the formulation, advocacy, and oversight of Department of Defense test and evaluation policies, as well as the development and implementation of test and test resource programs. He supports the Director in the planning, conduct, evaluation, and reporting of operational and live fire testing, and serves as the Comptroller for the Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense appropriation, and the principal advisor to the Director on all Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Executing matters. Dr. O’Toole served as Acting Director from January 20, 2021, until December 19, 2021.

Prior to becoming Principal Deputy Director, Dr. O’Toole was DOT&E’s Deputy Director for Naval Warfare. In this capacity, he oversaw the operational and live fire testing of ships and submarines and their associated sensors, combat and communications systems, and weapons. He also was responsible for overseeing the adequacy of test infrastructure and resources to support operational and live fire testing for all acquisition programs across the Department.

Before joining DOT&E, Dr. O’Toole was the Deputy Group Director of Aircraft Carrier Design and Systems Engineering at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Prior to that, he was the Director of Systems Engineering Division (Submarines and Undersea Systems), where he led a diverse team of engineers who supported all submarine program managers. His other NAVSEA assignments included ship design manager and Navy technical authority for USS Virginia Class submarines during the design and new construction phases, as well as for amphibious ships, auxiliary ships, and command and control ships during in-service operations.

Dr. O’Toole’s other previous positions within the Department of Defense include Deputy Program Executive Officer (Maritime and Rotary Wing) at U.S. Special Operations Acquisition Command, staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition (Ship Programs), and Deputy Director of Regional Maintenance for COMPACFLT (N43).
Dr. O’Toole has more than 30 years of experience as a naval officer (active and reserve), retiring at the rank of captain. His significant tours included five as commanding officer.

Dr. O’Toole is a native of Long Island, New York, and a graduate of the State University of New York – Maritime College, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering in marine engineering. He also holds a Master of Engineering in systems engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and a Doctorate in Engineering in the field of engineering management from The George Washington University, where he now lectures on Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. He has received the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Department of the Navy Meritorious and Superior Civilian awards.