Christopher Cronin

Results-driven Senior Analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, skilled in policy writing and data analysis. Successfully designed the first GAO ship sustainment report, influencing Navy policy. Recognized for exceptional performance and effective communication, delivering actionable recommendations that enhanced Navy readiness and maintenance practices.

• Defense Capabilities and Management Managing Director’s Award, 2019
• Special Contribution Award for Shipbuilding and Repair Industrial Base Report, 2025
• Special Contribution Award for Ship Sustainment Report, 2023
• Special Contribution Awards for Navy/Marine Corps Readiness Testimonies
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• Special Contribution Award, Government Procurement Agreements, 2016
• Special Contribution Award, BRAC Homeless Assistance, 2015

• Shipbuilding and Repair: Navy Needs a Strategic Approach for Private Sector Industrial Base Investments (GAO-25-106286)
• Weapon System Sustainment: Navy Ship Usage Has Decreased as Challenges and Costs Have Increased (GAO-23-106440)
• Naval Shipyards: Ongoing Challenges Could Jeopardize Navy's Ability to Improve Shipyards (GAO-22-105993)
• Navy Readiness: Additional Efforts Are Needed to Manage Fatigue, Reduce Crewing Shortfalls, and Implement Training (GAO-21-366)
• Navy Maintenance: Persistent and Substantial Ship and Submarine Maintenance Delays Hinder Efforts to Rebuild Readiness (GAO-20-257T)
• Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Address Costly Maintenance Delays Facing the Attack Submarine Fleet (GAO-19-229)
• Military Readiness: Department of Defense Domain Readiness Varied from Fiscal Year 2017 through Fiscal Year 2019 (GAO-21-279)
• Navy and Marine Corps: Rebuilding Ship, Submarine, and Aviation Readiness Will Require Time and Sustained Management Attention (GAO-19-225T)
• Defense Nuclear Enterprise: Processes to Monitor Progress on Implementing Recommendations and Managing Risks Could be Improved (GAO-18-144)
• Department of Veterans Affairs: Actions Needed to Address Employee Misconduct Process and Ensure Accountability (GAO-18-137)
• Government Procurement: United States Reported Opening More Opportunities to Foreign Firms Than Other Countries, but Better Data Are Needed (GAO-17-168)
• Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Maintenance, Training, and Other Challenges Affecting the Fleet (GAO-17-809T)
• Military Base Realignments and Closures: Process for Reusing Property for Homeless Assistance Needs Improvements (GAO-15-274)

• Navy maintenance and crewing analyses have been cited in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and the defense press, and referenced during Congressional hearings.
• Received exceptional ratings in all competencies in 2019 Annual Appraisal and awarded the DCM Managing Director’s Award for outstanding performance.
• Contributed to at least five congressional testimonies on Navy readiness and maintenance issues, introducing new methodology and metrics later adopted by the Navy for tracking maintenance delays.
• Led analysis demonstrating the Navy’s attack submarine fleet incurred over 10,000 days of maintenance delay as part of what the Navy Times called 'a scathing audit,' influencing a 2019 NDAA Congressional mandate requiring the Navy to develop a five-year submarine maintenance plan.
• Frequent contributor to the DCM Staff Development Team blog to improve team morale.