LCDR Thomas “Max” Dresser
Commanding Officer, USS Devastator (MCM 6)
12 September 2023
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Lieutenant Commander Max Dresser commissioned through the North Carolina State University Reserve Officer Training Corps program after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Systems Analysis Certification from the Naval Postgraduate School.
During his initial sea tour on USS SHILOH (CG 67) as Strike Officer, Force Protection Officer, and Weapons Officer, the ship led Ballistic Missile Defense operations as part of Task Force SEVEN ZERO, forward deployed to Japan. His second sea tour, forward deployed to FIFTH Fleet, was on USS THUNDERBOLT (PC 12) as Weapons Officer and Executive Officer. His department head tours were aboard USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79) as Plans and Tactics Officer and Combat Systems Officer. Most recently, he served as Executive Officer on USS DEVASTATOR (MCM 6).
Lieutenant Commander Dresser is a qualified Surface Warfare Officer, a 2016-2018 Fleet Scholar, the 2013 Carrier Strike Group FIVE Shiphandler of the Year, and has completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I through the U. S. Naval War College. His personal awards include multiple Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit and service awards.