Cmdr. Kurt C. Astroth
Commanding Officer, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75)
14 January 2021
CDR Kurt Astroth is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received his commission from NROTC University of Arizona in May 2004. He earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from The Naval War College in June 2019.
CDR Astroth served as a Division Officer aboard USS ESSEX (LHD 2), forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan and executed a surge deployment to the 5th Fleet AOR in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His next assignment aboard USS UNDERWOOD (FFG36), homeported in Mayport, Florida, also deployed to the 5
th Fleet AOR. As a Department Head he served two Chief Engineer tours first on MCM Crew Reaper, deployed to Manama, Bahrain and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) homeported in San Diego, CA. Following his Engineering tours, he reported to USS Boxer (LHD 4), where he served as the ship’s Navigator until April of 2018.
Ashore, CDR Astroth served as a Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) Officer with the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia and served as an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officer’s School in Newport, RI.
CDR Astroth assumed duties as DONALD COOK’s Commanding Officer in June 2022.
His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (1) and the Navy Achievement Medal (3), Battle “E” (3), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expiditionary Medal, Humanitarian Assitance Medal.