Navy Federal Credit Union has announced that Dietrich Kuhlmann will take on the role of president and chief executive officer starting March 1, 2024. He will succeed Mary McDuffie, who is retiring after a long tenure with the credit union. Kuhlmann joined Navy Federal in 2019 following his retirement from the United States Navy as a rear admiral and has served as chief operating officer for the past two years.

Ed Cochrane, chairman of the Board of Directors at Navy Federal, stated, “Following the announcement of Mary McDuffie’s retirement last September, the Board undertook a months-long, rigorous process to identify the best leader for our credit union.” He further added that Kuhlmann's extensive career demonstrated an "unwavering commitment" to service members, making him well-suited to lead the institution.

During his time as COO, Kuhlmann managed operations across several campuses and supported policies that aligned with Navy Federal's corporate vision. Outgoing CEO McDuffie praised Kuhlmann’s leadership qualities: “A leader of integrity with a powerful sense of duty and purpose, Dietrich also genuinely understands what our members need.”

Kuhlmann graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 and holds a Master of Science in engineering management from Catholic University. His military career included roles such as programming division director on staff of the Chief of Naval Operations where he managed significant financial responsibilities.

Kuhlmann expressed gratitude for his new position: “I’m tremendously grateful to be trusted with the responsibility to lead Navy Federal Credit Union.”

Cochrane also acknowledged McDuffie's contributions: “We congratulate Mary on her retirement and thank her for her decades of service to this credit union.”

Navy Federal Credit Union was established in 1933 and now serves over 13 million members globally. It is recognized as the world’s largest credit union with a workforce exceeding 24,000 employees.