Our Staff

Les Spanheimer

• Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
• 24-year career as a Naval Flight Officer, E-2C Hawkeye
• Former Director of Naval Academy Sailing
• Completed a sailing voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula

Les Spanheimer serves as Executive Director and Treasurer of the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation. A 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Les was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program and earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Flight Officer in 1993. Over a 24-year career in the United States Navy, he served in a wide range of operational, instructional, and senior staff roles at sea and ashore, retiring as a Commander.

His early operational tours included directing U.S. Customs and DEA maritime assets during one of the largest open-water narcotics seizures on record and deploying to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1997, Les was assigned to the United Kingdom as the sole U.S. officer on No. 8 Squadron, Royal Air Force, flying the E-3D AWACS in support of NATO operations during Operation Allied Force. At the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Fallon, Nevada, he served as Curriculum Manager for the E-2C Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Course and earned designation as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor.

Les later returned to sea duty, qualified as Air Wing Dynamic Strike Lead, and served as Combat Direction Center Officer aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) during the ship's maiden deployment. From 2005 to 2009, he served on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C., supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, earning a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and helping establish the Joint Staff Process Management Office. In 2012, he was assigned to the Naval Academy as Director of Naval Academy Sailing, leading midshipman seamanship, navigation, and leadership training under sail while also serving as an Adjunct Professor of Ethics.

Les holds master’s degrees from the University of London in International Business and from the University of Maryland in Management Information Systems. A lifelong sailor, he completed a sailing voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula in 2011, an experience that reinforced his appreciation for seamanship, risk management, and leadership in extreme environments. He is a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club and sails an Alerion Express 20 with his family on the Chesapeake Bay. Les is married to Dr. Michelle Reid of Victoria, Australia; they have one son, Dylan.

Christine Krause

• Nearly two decades in major gift fundraising
• Led two record-breaking campaigns at McDonogh School
• Chesapeake Bay native; based on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
• Focused on donor stewardship and long-term engagement

Christine Krause is a senior advancement and fundraising strategy professional with nearly two decades of experience securing major philanthropic support for mission-driven organizations. As Director of Advancement for the Naval Academy Sailing Foundation, she shapes and executes the Foundation’s comprehensive philanthropic strategy in support of midshipman leadership development through sailing, working closely with trustees, volunteers, donors, and Naval Academy leadership.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Christine spent many years in a senior advancement role at McDonogh School, a highly regarded, athletics-focused independent school in Owings Mills, Maryland. There, she worked extensively with leadership and major donors and played a central role in two record-breaking fundraising campaigns. Her work helped fund an ambitious campus master plan and several transformational capital projects that strengthened the school’s academic, athletic, and student-life programs. She partnered closely with trustees, volunteers, and senior administrators throughout these efforts.

A native of the Chesapeake Bay region, Christine grew up on the water, spending countless hours boating with her family. While her background is rooted in power boating rather than competitive sailing, these experiences inform her appreciation for preparation, teamwork, and shared responsibility. She is particularly focused on thoughtful stewardship, meaningful donor experiences, and building a culture of philanthropy aligned with the values of the Naval Academy. Christine lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with her husband, Scott; they have three grown children and enjoy spending time together on the Chesapeake Bay, kayaking, paddleboarding, and gathering with family.