Cmdr. Walt Brinkley
Commanding Officer, USS Ross (DDG 71)
01 February 2021
CDR Walt Brinkley enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1994 as an Electronic Warfare Technician. While enlisted he served in USS KAUFFMAN (FFG 59) as lead electronic warfare technician and embarked in USS BATAAN (LHD 5) as an Information Warfare Commander team member assigned to Amphibious Squadron Eight. He was selected for the FY02 Seaman-to-Admiral 21 commissioning program in October 2001.
Upon graduation and commissioning in May 2005, CDR Brinkley reported to his first and second Division Officer assignments in USS MITSCHER (DDG 57). His duties included Electrical Officer, Auxiliaries Officer, and Fire Control Officer. His Department Head tours afloat included Engineering Officer in USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51) and Operations Officer in USS ANZIO (CG 68).
Ashore CDR Brinkley attended Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, CA and was an Officer Candidate Instructor and Class Officer at Officer Training Command, Newport, RI. After his Department Head tours afloat, he served as an Engineering Assessor at Engineering Assessments Atlantic followed by Officer-in-Charge, Basic Division Officer Course Norfolk, VA.
CDR Brinkley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering Analysis from the Naval Post-Graduate School. He is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit citations and campaign awards.
CDR Brinkley assumed command of USS ROSS (DDG 71) in November 2022.
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