Bios

 

Ruby Lucas

Sponsor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Ruby Clack Lucas was born in Harperville, Mississippi.  When she was a small child, her family moved to Petal, Mississippi.  She married as a teenager, raised three daughters, and eventually had eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Ruby’s husband served in the Air Force, so the family had to move fairly often.  No matter where her family lived, Ruby served wherever she could – whether as a room mother, as a coach for her daughter’s softball team, or as an Avon professional.

After Ruby moved back to Petal, she owned her own businesses and was the first ever female president of the Petal Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that, she served as head teller for a local bank for many years.

When her marriage eventually ended, Ruby met and married Jack Lucas.  She made trips with Jack all over the world – from Iwo Jima to Pearl Harbor to Washington D.C. and to many other places.  Ruby met presidents, governors, senators, authors, and celebrities. She was even fortunate enough to dine at the White House.

Jack made many personal appearances and insisted on meeting and shaking hands with every Marine. Ruby was at his side no matter where he went.  Ruby made many friends during those traveling years.  Many of those friends still call her from all over our great country.

Jack Lucas passed on in 2008.  Ruby stays busy with her friends and her service to others. She is so proud of this great ship that bears Jack’s name and is very honored to participate in the ship’s christening.

 

Catherine B. Reynolds

Sponsor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Catherine B. Reynolds is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation.  She brings to the world of philanthropy and business the same innovation, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit that has ensured her success in the realm of commerce. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she started her business career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at the accounting firm of Arthur Young, and then become the Special Assistant to the Board Chairman of The Charter Company, a Fortune 50 company at the time. As the leader of two businesses, Mrs. Reynolds went on to create a new and affordable way for Americans to finance a college education. She developed a credit-based, privately-funded supplement to government student loan programs. Through her vision and perseverance, millions of Americans have been able to attend the college of their choice. In only one decade, this creative approach to private educational financing revolutionized student lending and spawned a multibillion-dollar industry.

Catherine B. Reynolds was selected by BusinessWeek magazine as one of the 50 most philanthropic living Americans and is the first self-made woman ever to make the list. Mrs. Reynolds has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Morehouse College, and Willamette University, as well as New York University’s Gallatin Gold Medal. She was selected as Washingtonian of the Year, honoring “local heroes whose good works and generous spirits make Washington a great place to live and work.” Mrs. Reynolds currently serves on the boards of General Dynamics Corporation and Lindblad Expeditions, LLC. She is also the Board Chairman of Lyndra Therapeutics, an innovative biotechnology company that aims to fundamentally change the way people take medicine.

 

Barbara Barclay

Matron of Honor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Barbara Barclay is an accomplished special events professional who joined the American Battle Monuments Commission in 2002 as the Assistant Director for Dedication Events of the National World War II Memorial.  She was part of the core team that planned and organized this national historic event and was selected as liaison with the 50 surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipients who were invited to attend the Dedication.

It was during a telephone conversation that Mrs. Barclay first met Jack Lucas and over numerous conversations and emails, a friendship ensued — a friendship that would include their respective spouses and many memorable times together.

Mrs. Barclay, now retired, is the widow of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Barclay (USAF, Ret.) and currently resides in Culpeper, Virginia.  She is deeply honored to serve as a Matron of Honor for the future USS Jack H. Lucas, an honor deserving of its namesake.  Jack was a man of honor, integrity, and deep faith who was willing to sacrifice his life to save his fellow Marines.

 

Emily Davis

Matron of Honor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

It was from a Christmas present given to her by her grandparents in 2000 that Emily Davis first heard the story of Jacklyn Harold Lucas. Upon meeting in 2002, a friendship was formed with Mr. and Mrs. Lucas that led her to be a Matron of Honor for the future USS Jack H. Lucas.

Mrs. Davis holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Secondary Social Studies and Special Education, a Master of Education degree in Special Education, Certifications in Educational Leadership and Educational Diagnostics, and is currently working on her dissertation for a Doctorate of Education in Special Education.  She and her husband reside in the metro New Orleans area, where she works as an educational diagnostician.

Mrs. Davis is honored beyond words for the opportunity to stand with Mrs. Lucas as we commemorate a man who epitomized courage, honor, and the true American spirit.

 

Kathleen Edwards

Matron of Honor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Kathleen Edwards is the widow of Captain Peter J. Edwards, who was a two time Purple Heart recipient.  She has been a volunteer with many veteran organizations, helping veterans receive the benefits due to them.

It was through these organizations that Kathleen met Ruby and Jack Lucas.  They became fast friends over their concern for veterans.

Mrs. Edwards currently lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  She considers it a very special privilege to serve as Matron of Honor to Ruby for the future USS Jack H. Lucas.  Jack was a friend and a true patriot who was always available to help fellow veterans.

 

Tara Gonsorchik

Matron of Honor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Tara Virginia Gonsorcik was born in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the daughter of Louis and Georganne Lucas and the granddaughter of Jack H. Lucas.  She is married to her husband of 21 years, Retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Wayne A. Gonsorcik.  Together, Tara and her husband have five children – Hannah (20), Lillian (17), Lucas (15), Hunter (12), and Eli (10). Their oldest, Hannah, is newly married to Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Drayton Johnson. Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Tara and her family currently reside in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is an active volunteer in her community and church. She homeschools her children and works part-time for a local non-profit pregnancy resource center.  Tara hopes to attend graduate school in the near future to pursue her degree in counseling.  She is committed to keeping alive the memory and spirit of the heroic actions taken by her grandfather, Jack, for generations to come.

 

Barbara Allbritton

Matron of Honor, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

Barbara Balfanz Allbritton was born in Houston, Texas.  After completing degrees at the University of Texas and the University of Houston in home economics and education, she went on to teach elementary school.  In 1967, she married Joe Allbritton.

Active in numerous civic, professional, and cultural endeavors, Mrs. Allbritton formerly served with the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, National Archives, Smithsonian Associates, St. Albans School for Boys, and the Institute of International Education and was Chairman of the Prince of Wales Foundation USA.  She served on the boards of Allbritton Communications and its affiliates, including eight national network TV stations and a 24-hour news station.

Currently, Mrs. Allbritton serves on the board of the Blair House Restoration Fund, the Dean’s counsel of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and is Chairman of the board and President of the Allbritton Art Institute.

Mrs. Allbritton has one son and three grandchildren.

 

Admiral Michael Gilday, USN
Chief of Naval Operations

Adm. Mike Gilday is the son of a Navy Sailor. A surface warfare officer, he is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds master’s degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and the National War College.

At sea, he deployed with USS Chandler (DDG 996), USS Princeton (CG 59), and USS Gettysburg (CG 64).  He commanded destroyers USS Higgins (DDG 76) and USS Benfold (DDG 65) and subsequently, commanded Destroyer Squadron 7, serving as sea combat commander for the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.

As a flag officer, he served as commander Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and as commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet.
His staff assignments include the Bureau of Naval Personnel; staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, and staff of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Joint assignments include executive assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and naval aide to the President.

As a flag officer, he served in joint positions as director of operations for NATO’s Joint Force Command Lisbon; as chief of staff for Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO; director of operations, J3, for U.S. Cyber Command; and as director of operations, J3, for the Joint Staff. He recently served as director, Joint Staff.

He has served on teams that have been recognized with numerous awards and is the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (four awards), Legion of Merit (three awards), Bronze Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Gilday began serving as the 32nd Chief of Naval Operations August 22, 2019.

 

Kari Wilkinson
President, Ingalls Shipbuilding
Executive Vice President, HII

Kari Wilkinson is executive vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Named to this position in April 2021, she is responsible for all programs and operations at Ingalls, including the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault and surface combatant ship programs and the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter program.

Wilkinson most recently served as the vice president of Program Management at Ingalls where she had profit and loss responsibility for all elements of program execution and served as the principal liaison to the Navy and Coast Guard for all platforms in the Ingalls portfolio.

Wilkinson began her career with Ingalls as an associate naval architect in 1996. Since then, she has supported major shipbuilding production events and milestones from positions in Engineering, has worked closely with Business Development on requirements and preliminary ship designs for both domestic and international customers, and also coordinated the prioritization of equipment and processes in Operations during the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. In 2007, she moved into the Program Office as a ship program manager within the San Antonio-class LPD program.

Originally from Jenison, Michigan, Wilkinson earned a bachelor of science in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Temple University.

Wilkinson serves on the Boards of Directors for the Mississippi Economic Council, Gulf Coast Business Council and the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation.

 

The Honorable Meredith A. Berger

Performing the duties of Undersecretary of the Navy

The Honorable Meredith A. Berger assumed the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment on July 28, 2021. She is responsible for providing oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps energy and climate resilience; infrastructure sustainment, restoration and modernization; military construction; acquisition, utilization and disposal of real property and facilities; environmental protection, planning, restoration and natural resources conservation; and safety and occupational health.

Ms. Berger has served in a variety of policy and senior leadership positions in both federal and state government and the private sector. Before her nomination, Ms. Berger was a senior manager for the Defending Democracy Project at Microsoft Corporation. She was a Fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Ms. Berger was Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, advising the Secretary on the formulation and execution of Department-wide strategy, policies, plans, and standards. Ms. Berger also served as a Department of Defense Fellow.

Prior to her tenure with the Department of the Navy, Ms. Berger held policy positions with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of the State of Florida Chief Financial Officer.

Ms. Berger holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Spanish from Vanderbilt University. She has earned the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, and the EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service.

 

The Honorable Roger F. Wicker

United States Senator for the State of Mississippi

Roger F. Wicker has represented Mississippi in the United States Senate since December 2007. During his time in the Senate, Wicker has championed pro-growth policies to create jobs, limit federal overreach, protect life, and maintain a strong national defense.

Wicker is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for the 116th Congress. He previously served as the chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet.

Wicker is the second-highest ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His other committee assignments include the Environment and Public Works Committee; and the Rules and Administration Committee.

Wicker is the ranking member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and Vice President of the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly. Wicker also serves as a member of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Congressional Board of Visitors.

In the 115th Congress, Wicker authored the “Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Act,” which made it the policy of the United States to achieve the Navy’s requirement for a 355-ship fleet. This legislation, which was designed to bolster national security and increase American shipbuilding capacity, was signed into law by President Trump as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Senator Wicker has been a strong advocate for economic development initiatives to help keep Mississippians competitive in a global marketplace. He has been honored by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) for his work on pro-growth, pro-manufacturing policies in Congress.

Senator Wicker has actively supported cancer survivorship programs and efforts to fight heart disease with the American Heart Association, diabetes, childhood obesity, and Alzheimer’s. He has been recognized as a “champion” of polio eradication for his work to wipe out polio worldwide. Senator Wicker is the co-founder of the Senate Malaria and Neglected Tropical Disease Caucus and has worked to eliminate these preventable diseases.

He has been instrumental in bringing more research funding to Mississippi universities for a wide range of health-related projects to fight disease and improve quality of life. Most notably, Wicker authored the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education (MD CARE) Act of 2001, which created NIH centers of excellence to coordinate and enhance muscular dystrophy research. The Wicker Project at Children’s National Medical Center is a leader in muscular dystrophy research.

Prior to his service in the Senate, Wicker was elected seven times, beginning in 1994, to represent Mississippi’s First Congressional District in the House of Representatives. Before being elected to Congress, he served in the state Senate on behalf of Lee and Pontotoc counties.

Senator Wicker served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and then joined the Air Force Reserve. He retired from the Reserve in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

A native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, the Senator is the son of former Circuit Judge Fred Wicker and the late Mrs. Wordna Wicker. He was educated in the public schools of Pontotoc and received his B.A. and law degrees from the University of Mississippi. Wicker is a member of the First Baptist Church Tupelo, where he served as chairman of the deacons, taught Sunday School, and where he still sings in the choir.

Senator Wicker is married to the former Gayle Long of Tupelo. They have three children: Margaret and son-in-law Manning McPhillips; Caroline and son-in-law Kirk Sims; and McDaniel Wicker and his wife Kellee; and eight grandchildren: Caroline, Henry, Maury Beth, and Virginia McPhillips; Evelyn and Joseph Sims; and Philippa and Julia Wicker.

 

The Honorable Steven Palazzo

U.S. Representative for Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District

Congressman Steven M. Palazzo is proud to serve the people of South Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, current member of the Mississippi National Guard, and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Congressman Palazzo has a record of service that began long before he was first sworn into office on January 5, 2011.

Steven currently serves as the Senior Appropriator for South MS, where he sits on subcommittees: Homeland Security, and Commerce, Justice, and Science.

Since his first term, he has spent five years as the Chairman of the Space Committee Subcommittee. His military experience has provided the opportunity for Steven to lead the House National Guard Caucus, where he remains chairman. In 2016, he also took the helm of the House Aerospace Caucus. He is an advocate for strong national defense, a leader on veteran’s issues and a champion for fiscal common sense.

Steven’s prior life includes experience working on oil rigs, serving on active duty overseas, and starting and owning his own small business. A Gulf Coast native, Steven is the proud father of three children: Barrett, Aubrey and Bennett.

 

Rear Admiral Tom J. Anderson, USN

Program Executive Office, Ships

Rear Adm. Anderson is a native of North Brunswick, New Jersey.  He was commissioned in 1991 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program at Boston University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Anderson’s tours as a Surface Warfare Officer included USS Capodanno and USS Arleigh Burke, where he coordinated the first two Chief of Naval Operations availabilities of the DDG 51 Class.

Upon selection to the Engineering Duty Community in 1996, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also completed the Total Ship Systems Engineering Curriculum and became a California State Licensed Professional Engineer.

Ashore, he has served in a variety of industrial, fleet, program office and headquarters assignments in ship design and construction, maintenance, budgeting, and requirements. His ashore assignments include: Naval Sea Systems Command executive assistant; Littoral Combat Ship Shipbuilding program manager; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations requirements officer; chief engineer and post-delivery branch head for the DDG 51 Class; and Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic, mine warfare type desk officer.

Anderson’s first flag assignment was commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, leading more than 17,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel, providing research, development, test and evaluation for the future Navy as well as in-service engineering and logistics support for the operational naval forces. Anderson also served as the Department of Defense executive manager for Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology and Training, with oversight responsibilities for joint military EOD systems and training.

Most recently, Anderson served as the commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center and Naval Sea Systems Command director, Surface Ship Maintenance and Modernization. He was responsible for managing critical ship modernization and maintenance, training, Foreign Military support contracts, and inactivation programs.

Currently, Anderson is serving as program executive officer, Ships, where he is responsible for Navy shipbuilding for surface combatants, amphibious ships, logistics support ships, support craft, and related foreign military sales.

Anderson’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), and Joint Service Commendation Medal. He is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community with Level III certifications in Program Management, Production Quality Management, and Systems Engineering.

 

Major General Jason Bohm, USMC

Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command

Major General Bohm was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 1990 upon graduating from the NROTC Program at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Major General Bohm has had the honor of commanding at many levels. He served as a Rifle Platoon and 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines; 5th Platoon Commander with the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company; Commanding Officer, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station, Charleston, West Virginia; Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines; Commanding Officer, 5th Marine Regiment; Commanding Officer, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command; and Commanding General, Marine Corps Training Command.

Major General Bohm’s staff assignments include: Executive Officer, FAST Company; Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines; Assistant Division Training Officer, 1st Marine Division; G-3 Current Operations Officer, 1st Marine Division; Ground Combat Operations Officer, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

In the Supporting Establishment, Major General Bohm served as the Director of the Marine Corps Legislative Liaison Office, United States House of Representatives; and Director, Expeditionary Warfare School.

Major General Bohm’s Joint and Coalition assignments include: Planner, Joint Task Force Skilled Anvil; Strategic Planner, Assistant Executive Assistant to the Director; and Director, Strategic Initiatives Group for the Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) of the Joint Staff; and most recently as the Chief of Staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) in Oeiras, Portugal.

Major General Bohm participated in the following contingencies and named operations: Operations RESTORE HOPE; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY; FAIRWINDS; SEA SIGNAL; UNIFIED ASSISTANCE; IRAQI FREEDOM; INHERENT RESOLVE; an antiterrorism mission to Bahrain; and a deployment in support of U.S. Support Group Haiti.

Major General Bohm is a graduate of The Basic School, Infantry Officer Course, U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.

Major General Bohm’s personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit (2); Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device (2); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (2); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2); Army Commendation Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal; and Combat Action Ribbon (2).

 

Captain Nathan Schneider, USN

Commanding Officer, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast

Captain Schneider grew up in Rice Lake, WI and attended the United States Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and was subsequently commissioned as an Ensign in 1996.

Captain Schneider began his naval career as a Surface Warfare Officer with his first tour as the Ordnance Officer aboard the USS CALLAGHAN (DDG 994) from January of 1997 until her decommissioning in March of 1998. His next tour was aboard the USS CHANDLER (DDG 996) as the Fire Control Officer, as well as the Combat Systems Officer prior to her decommissioning in October of 1999. Following this tour, CAPT Schneider served aboard USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD 964) as the Assistant Chief Engineer and Ship’s Maintenance Management Officer from December 1999 until January 2001. During this period he also served as the ship’s Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) Coordinator for her four month DSRA accomplished at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Captain Schneider laterally transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community in January of 2001. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, where he earned a Mechanical Engineer’s degree and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2003. After graduation, CAPT Schneider reported to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP), Puget Sound where he first served as the Surface Combatant Project Officer until assigned the Aircraft Carrier Project Officer, a position he held from October 2004 until October 2006. CAPT Schneider reported to SUPSHIP Bath in Bath, ME where he was the Technical Director and later became the DDG 1000 Program Manager’s Representative (PMR) until departing in August 2008 for PMS 500 (DDG 1000 Program). While attached to PMS 500, CAPT Schneider first served as Production Officer before assuming the role of Production Test and Trials and Post Delivery Officer, until departing in July of 2011. While serving with PMS 500, he also served a year as an Individual Augmentee in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following this tour, CAPT Schneider served as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) PMR at SUPSHIP Bath Detachment Marinette in Marinette, WI until September of 2015, delivering LCS 3 and overseeing the shipyard’s transition to full-rate production. CAPT Schneider later served as the LCS Post Delivery Officer until August of 2016 and then Chief of Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Ships) Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development and Acquisition. In August 2018, he reported to SUPSHIP Gulf Coast as the Executive Officer. On Aug. 12, 2019, he assumed command of SSGC as the seventh Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast.

Captain Schneider has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 Awards) and numerous campaign and unit awards.

 

Captain Seth A. Miller, USN

DDG 51 Class Shipbuilding Program Manager, Program Executive Office, Ships

Captain Seth Miller is a native of Grain Valley, Missouri. He received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree in May 1996. He holds a Master of Science degree in Physics with a subspecialty in Total Ship System Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

After completing Surface Warfare Officers School, Captain Miller reported aboard USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) where he served as the Strike Officer from January 1997 to July 1999. He took the ship from its initial post-delivery test and trials to its maiden deployment to the Mediterranean in support of Operation Allied Force.

Captain Miller reported aboard USS Carr (FFG 52) in 1999 where he served as Navigator and Administrative Officer. He participated in deployment workups and deployed to the Mediterranean. During his tour, he received a lateral transfer to the Engineering Duty Officer Community. Following completion of Engineering Duty Officer School, Captain Miller reported to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) in December 2003. During his tour, he served as the Electromagnetic Railgun Project Officer, spent one year on temporary duty to the Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) DDG 1000 Combat System Integration, and deployed to Afghanistan for an Individual Augmentation Tour.

From April 2007 to May 2010, Captain Miller served as the AEGIS Test Officer for the DDG 51 shipbuilding program at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion & Repair in Bath, Maine. During his tour at SUPSHIP Bath, Captain Miller participated in the delivery of five DDG 51 class ships and the start of DDG 1000 construction and combat system test planning.

In May 2010, Captain Miller reported to PEO IWS 1.0 as the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Integration Manager. In 2011, he reported to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition) as the Director of Surface Combatants to serve as the action officer for the DDG 51, DDG 1000, and LCS Class shipbuilding programs. From 2014 to 2016, he served as the DDG 51 Class Shipbuilding Program Production Officer. His most recent assignment was as Major Program Manager for the Zumwalt Class Integrated Combat System (PEO IWS 9.0).

He was selected as the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer Shipbuilding Program Manager in April 2019 and is currently part of the outstanding AEGIS shipbuilding team that is fielding the Flight III Destroyers.

Captain Miller’s personal awards include four Meritorious Service Medals, one Joint Commendation Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals.

 

Captain Brett Oster, USN

Commanding Officer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

A native of New Jersey, Captain Brett Oster received a Bachelor of Science from Lehigh University in Materials Science and Engineering in 1997. Upon graduation, he enlisted as a nuclear Electronics Technician and then gained his commission in 1998 via Officer Candidate School. He received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies as well as JPME Phase I & II from the Naval War College.

At sea assignments include Ordnance Officer in USS MITSCHER (DDG 57), Main Propulsion Assistant in USS HAWES (FFG 53), Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS FORREST SHERMAN (DDG 98), Executive Officer in LCS Crew 109, Executive Officer in USS McFAUL (DDG 74), Chief Staff Officer in DESTROYER SQUADRON TWO SIX, and Executive Officer and Commanding Officer in USS MITSCHER (DDG 57).

Shore-duty assignments include instructor tours in the Seamanship and Navigation Department at United States Naval Academy and in the Maritime Warfare Department at Surface Warfare Officers School, the Joint Fires Officer in United States Naval Forces Central Command, the Washington DC Placement Officer in Navy Personnel Command, and most recently the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Office Warfighter Requirements Branch Chief in the Joint Staff.

Captain Oster has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various other unit, campaign, and service awards.