Steven Mays

Steven was born in Charleston, West Virginia into an Air Force family (both parents at one point) and is proud to be called a military brat. He traveled the country and the world following his father during his career as an Air Force Sergeant. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy on June 5, 1974, having majored in math and was selected for the Navy Nuclear Power program despite one of the shortest interviews of all time with Admiral Rickover. He earned his gold dolphins aboard the USS Los Angeles (SSN-688) which was the lead ship in the Navy’s fleet of attack submarines. His subsequent career involved safety and risk evaluations of nuclear power plants for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the civilian nuclear power industry in the United States and Canada, and government service with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff. He obtained a master’s degree in electrical engineering via the GI Bill while working full time at the INL. He resides in Ashburn, Virginia in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with his wife Barbara who has put up with him for over 30 years. He is passionate about storytelling and leadership. Steve believes that leaders are made, not born, and that teaching others how to lead is the most rewarding and vital occupation anyone can participate in. Steve can be reached any time at semcon@comcast.net to talk about leadership and swap sea stories. There is a difference between sea stories and fairy tales. Fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time” while sea stories begin with “This is no BS.” Otherwise, they are identical.