Kerry Hotopp (SES)

Counsel, Strategic Systems Programs

Kerry Hotopp (SES)

Mr. Kerry Hotopp is Counsel for the Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), which is responsible for the Department of the Navy’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles and conventional hypersonic weapons, as well as the Polaris Sales Agreement with the United Kingdom. As counsel, Mr. Hotopp serves as the principal legal advisor to SSP’s Director Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe Jr.

Mr. Hotopp was appointed to the senior executive service in August 2020 to lead the Acquisition Integrity Office, where for two years, he coordinated the Department’s efforts and pursued remedies on all acquisition fraud, waste, and abuse within the Department. Mr. Hotopp was also the Navy’s suspension and debarment official.

Mr. Hotopp began his Navy civilian career as an acquisition attorney in the systems section at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in September 2008. In September 2014, he became Counsel to Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, where he led a team of attorneys and advised on Navy’s network and business information technology systems, including the world’s largest internal network.

In November 2016, Mr. Hotopp returned to NAVSEA as the Head of the systems section, leading a team of attorneys who advised on the acquisition of weapons, sensors, communications equipment, and other systems needed to outfit the Navy’s ships.

Mr. Hotopp began his legal career in September 2002 as a litigation associate at the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, in Washington, DC, where he spent six years specializing in fraud and False Claims Act cases.

Mr. Hotopp is a graduate from the Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude, and from the University of Rochester, magna cum laude, majoring in history and philosophy. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Last Updated: 11 May 2023

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