Oregon Steel Mills Names First Members of New Advisory Board
08/24/2026 - Oregon Steel Mills announced it has formed an advisory board and named retired U.S. Army major general John Wharton and retired U.S. Navy rear admiral Ryan Scholl as its first two members.
The company said the advisory board will counsel its leadership on national security priorities, defense technology and its role as a domestic supplier to the U.S. military.
“Their decades of experience and leadership will advance our ability to deliver the highest quality steel and armor plate to meet the ever-evolving needs of our armed forces. We are the only plate producer of armor and non-armor west of the Rockies,” said Doyle Hopper, president of Oregon Steel Mills.
Wharton has held three general officer commands for the industrial and technology bases of the army and joint forces, along with serving as chief of staff of Army Material Command. Most recently, he was commanding general of the U.S. Army research, development and engineering command. He has a B.S. in general engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Scholl served as executive vice president of defense at Kraken Technology U.S. and continues to be involved with emerging defense technology as a director and advisor. He has a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University and a master of arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He also graduated from the Joint Staff College and the Navy Nuclear Power Program.
“We take our responsibility extremely seriously and will continue to support military readiness and modernization of American defense capabilities through our domestic production. With the advisory board’s guidance and ability to drive innovation, we will continue producing the steel that keeps America safe,” Hopper continued.
The company said its facility is the only U.S. producer of light-gauge HY materials used in the submarine industrial base and can now produce HY-80 and HY-100 specialty steel grades.
“Their decades of experience and leadership will advance our ability to deliver the highest quality steel and armor plate to meet the ever-evolving needs of our armed forces. We are the only plate producer of armor and non-armor west of the Rockies,” said Doyle Hopper, president of Oregon Steel Mills.
Wharton has held three general officer commands for the industrial and technology bases of the army and joint forces, along with serving as chief of staff of Army Material Command. Most recently, he was commanding general of the U.S. Army research, development and engineering command. He has a B.S. in general engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Scholl served as executive vice president of defense at Kraken Technology U.S. and continues to be involved with emerging defense technology as a director and advisor. He has a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University and a master of arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He also graduated from the Joint Staff College and the Navy Nuclear Power Program.
“We take our responsibility extremely seriously and will continue to support military readiness and modernization of American defense capabilities through our domestic production. With the advisory board’s guidance and ability to drive innovation, we will continue producing the steel that keeps America safe,” Hopper continued.
The company said its facility is the only U.S. producer of light-gauge HY materials used in the submarine industrial base and can now produce HY-80 and HY-100 specialty steel grades.
