Pete Downes is a retired Commander in the United States Navy with over 20 years of operational and acquisition experience. A career Surface Warfare Officer, Pete has spent two decades navigating the complexities of maritime operations, including a command tour of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).

During his tenure at OPNAV N96, the Surface Warfare Directorate, he set requirements for guns, ammunition, directed energy, and counter-unmanned systems. Prior to his Navy retirement, he was a leader within Task Force Hopper, the U.S. Navy’s dedicated group for AI transformation and the implementation of emerging technologies for the Surface Fleet. In his role as Private Capital and Startup Engagement , he acted as a "universal translator" between the Department of War, private capital, and the deep-tech startup ecosystem. Pete was responsible for scouting and vetting dual-use technologies, facilitating operational diligence for venture capital firms, and accelerating the transition of autonomous and AI-driven capabilities from prototypes into integrated shipboard systems.

Based in San Diego, Pete now leads Sea State, where he applies this unique perspective to collapse the innovation cycle for a hand-selected portfolio of defense technology firms. He holds deep-rooted connections across the D.C. policy landscape, the Southern California innovation corridor, and international defense markets in the UK and Europe.