Cmdr. Thomas G. Ralston
Commanding Officer, USS Porter (DDG 78)
15 December 2020
Commander Thomas G. Ralston is a native of Rota, Spain where his father was stationed while serving in the U.S. Navy. He attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL, and was commissioned an Ensign. He assumed command of USS Porter (DDG 78) in Aug. 2020.
At sea, he served as Auxiliaries Officer onboard USS Chosin (CG 65), Navigator onboard USS Reuben James (FFG 57), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Chief Engineer onboard USS Barry (DDG 52) in Norfolk, Va., and as Flag Secretary to Commander, Carrier Strike Group NINE embarked onboard USS Ronald Regan (CVN 76) in San Diego, Calif.
Ashore, Ralston served as an Instructor of Seamanship and Navigation at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., as an Engineering Assessor at Engineering Assessments Pacific, San Diego, Calif., and as a Ballistic Missile Defense planner on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa, Commander, U.S SIXTH Fleet and Chief Staff Officer, Commander, Task Force SIX FOUR, Naples, Italy.
Most recently, he served as Executive Officer onboard USS Porter (DDG 78) from Oct. 2018 to March 2020.
Ralston’s additional education includes a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Law Degree from University of Seville.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (three awards).