Cmdr. Thad Tasso
Commanding Officer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96)
26 September 2023
A native of Illinois, CDR Tasso enlisted in the Navy in 1998 as an Electronics Technician and was selected for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program in 2001. He attended the University of Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 2004. He earned a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies in 2017 from the U.S. Naval War College.
At sea, CDR Tasso has completed multiple afloat tours including: First Lieutenant, USS RUSSELL (DDG 59); Reactor Mechanical Division Officer, USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75); Operations Officer, USS GRAVELY (DDG 107); Reactor Training Assistant, USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER (CVN 69). He served as Executive Officer of USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) and as the final Commanding Officer of USS HUÉ CITY (CG 66). He has completed multiple U.S. Seventh Fleet, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and U.S. Fifth Fleet deployments.
Ashore, he served as Plant Evaluation Officer and Senior Evaluation Officer at Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston and as the Deputy Director of the Commander’s Action Group at Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic. He most recently served as Executive Assistant to Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
CDR Tasso’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.
CDR Tasso assumed command of USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) on September 15, 2023.