Tom Ralph
Founder & Managing Director, FissionPoint Assurance
Tom Ralph is the Founder and Managing Director of FissionPoint Assurance, where he spearheads strategic advisory services in nuclear security, policy development, international collaboration, export controls, and crisis response. A seasoned naval officer and national security executive, Tom established FissionPoint after serving as Deputy Director for Security and Intelligence within the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
In that role, he managed a $100 million security portfolio, overseeing operations, information protection, and national security policy at the highest level. He also played a pivotal role as the lead U.S. security representative in the AUKUS agreement, facilitating the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion technology. Tom’s efforts included developing international frameworks, negotiating classified information-sharing protocols, and ensuring secure trilateral engagement with Australia and the United Kingdom.
Tom began his career as a Lead Engineer on the U.S. Navy’s FORD-class aircraft carriers, where he directed the design and modernization of advanced propulsion control systems. He managed critical hardware components, including sensors, displays, and programmable logic controllers, and led a proactive obsolescence management program with a $10 million annual budget. His leadership culminated in the approval of an $80 million distributed control system upgrade, significantly enhancing reliability, interoperability, and lifecycle support across the fleet.
Tom holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering and International & Global Studies from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he trained as a Midshipman in the College of the Holy Cross Naval ROTC Battalion. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Naval Officer and stationed at Naval Reactors in Washington, D.C. During his tenure, he graduated at the top of his class from the prestigious Bettis Reactor Engineering School, earning a graduate certificate in nuclear reactor design. He is currently pursuing his Juris Doctorate at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, with an expected graduation date of May 2025.
Combining deep technical expertise, legal acumen, and strategic insight, Tom helps organizations navigate complex regulatory and operational challenges. Through FissionPoint Assurance, he delivers high-stakes advisory services to clients in the nuclear, defense, and advanced technology sectors, offering clarity, credibility, and control to execute their most critical missions.