Cmdr. Dominic J. Kramer
Commanding Officer, USS Mitscher (DDG 57)
04 January 2021
A native of Medford, Minnesota Commander Kramer graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in Political Science and Naval Science. He was commissioned via the NROTC program at the University of Minnesota in 2005.
A career surface warfare officer, Commander Kramer’s shipboard assignments include: USS Stethem (DDG 63) as Administrative Officer and First Lieutenant as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as Reactor Propulsion Division Officer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, USS McFaul (DDG 74) as Operations Officer, and USS George Washington (CVN 73) as Reactor Electrical Assistant. This tour included the navy’s first ever three CVN crew swap and a home port shift from Yokosuka, Japan to Norfolk, Virginia. He served as Executive Officer onboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57) prior to assuming command in April 2022.
Ashore, he served as Technical Instructor of Naval Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as Defense Fellow and Military Legislative Aide for Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02). Most recently, he served as a Junior Board Member on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board in Honolulu, Hawaii. Commander Kramer is a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and holds a Master of Arts in Law in Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Tufts University.
He has deployed to the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th fleets throughout his career. His personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.