Meet Lindsay Greene, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
On April 30, the 2025 Open City Benefit will bring together hundreds of New Yorkers for a festive evening at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in BLDG 303.
Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, which operates the Brooklyn Navy Yard, will accept the 2025 Open City Award.
About Lindsay
Lindsay Greene is the President & CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Greene is charged with deepening and expanding the Navy Yard's mission, investing in the jobs of the future and creating pipelines for underserved communities to fill these jobs.
She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where she oversaw economic analysis, business development, inclusive job growth, and innovation strategies. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Greene led efforts to activate local New York City manufacturers to produce key medical supplies, ranging from gowns and face shields to test kits.
Prior to joining NYCEDC, Greene was Chief Strategy Officer for Economic Development & Housing in the New York City Mayor’s Office, focusing on economic justice, industry and job growth, regulatory structures for emerging industries like cannabis, and labor rights. Prior to working for the City, Greene spent four years in senior management at food startups and six years working at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the firm’s Urban Investment Group.
Greene holds a BA in economics from Harvard and an MBA from Yale School of Management. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife and two daughters.
You’ve been in your role as President and CEO since 2022. What most excites you about your work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard?
The Yard’s 220+ year-old history as a site of innovation, industry, and equality fuels my desire to build on that legacy for New Yorkers today. From advancing complex infrastructure projects to launching new programs that help level the economic playing field, the Yard’s mission of creating middle-class jobs will always be our north star. It is an honor to be in a position where I can navigate the intersection between industry and local government, creating more opportunities for disadvantaged communities, such as women and people of color, at a place where the past and present inform a tangible future.
"It is an honor to be in a position where I can navigate the intersection between industry and local government, creating more opportunities for disadvantaged communities, such as women and people of color, at a place where the past and present inform a tangible future."
- Lindsay Greene, President & CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
What was your career journey to your current role?
I started out as an investment analyst (ironically enough for mid-size industrial businesses) before realizing I wanted to broaden my skills beyond financial analysis, which I did by attending a mission-oriented business school. From there, I pursued a passion for advancing the food startup industry and trying to make it healthier and more accessible for communities in need. Those experiences led to an opportunity to work in the NYC Mayor’s Office, where I had the chance to experience the kind of impactful work that can only be achieved at the government level.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard has opened its doors to the public for OHNY Weekend since 2005. What can the public learn from visiting the campus?
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was constructed beginning in 1801 by the U.S. Navy to support its innovation and shipbuilding needs, all while supporting the needs of our naval service men and women during active wartime. As such, it was designed to be a gated and protected campus, which intentionally reduced accessibility for surrounding communities and visitors. Over the past 20+ years, we have worked diligently to create a more accessible perimeter, allowing New Yorkers and all visitors to come to the Yard to learn about our history, industries, and programs. We’re home to over 550 businesses that employ more than 13,000 people who make all sorts of products. We also have an Employment Center in Building 92 that helps people get jobs, the Market @ 77 Food Hall, the NYC Ferry homeport, and so much more. Our 300-acre campus always has something to offer, so we welcome visitors to explore the Navy Yard at various times throughout the year, whether for educational classes, public events, or simply to grab a bite to eat.
"The Brooklyn Navy Yard was constructed beginning in 1801 by the U.S. Navy [and] was designed to be a gated and protected campus, which intentionally reduced accessibility for surrounding communities and visitors. Over the past 20+ years, we have worked diligently to create a more accessible perimeter."
- Lindsay Greene, President & CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
What is your favorite New York City waterfront spot (besides the Brooklyn Navy Yard)?
There are so many! My family and I love the waterfront. I got engaged at the Christopher Street Pier in Manhattan, and my wife and I's favorite spontaneous date spot was always Coney Island. We still take the kids there, but not as often. We have taken the kids to the Floating Pool Lady in the Bronx a few times, but nowadays we visit Brooklyn Bridge Park frequently, and our go-to beach is Jacob Riis Beach in Queens (we always love national parks!). But if I had to pick just one, it would be Coney Island because of the Cyclone, the Polar Bear Plunge, and general good times.
Why are you an Open House New Yorker?
As a Washington, D.C. native and now a 22-year resident of New York City, I define myself as a “city kid at heart” who wants to make urban areas the best they can be. Since the dawn of time, cities have always been unique centers of industry, culture, and commerce, and the people who live in them catalyze their evolution through civic participation. Having full access to all the elements that make a city run propels innovation. It gives people ample opportunities to thrive, which is why I support organizations like Open House New York.
"Full access to all the elements that make a city run propels innovation [and] gives people ample opportunities to thrive, which is why I support organizations like Open House New York."
- Lindsay Greene, President & CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
Top photo: AYO Labs Groundbreaking, March 2024. Courtesy of Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.