LCDR Kai Cumpston
Executive Officer, USS DEXTROUS (MCM 13)
11 April 2024
LCDR Kai Cumpston is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii and a 2012 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelors of Science in History. He also earned a Master’s of Arts in American History from George Mason University in 2017 and completed Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I from the Naval War College.
His first sea assignment was as the Fire Control Officer, Anti-Terrorism Officer, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Officer aboard USS ELROD (FFG 55) in Norfolk, VA. After decommissioning USS ELROD, he transferred to USS SIROCCO (PC 6), forward deployed in Manama, Bahrain. There he served as the ship’s Weapons, Supply, and VBSS officer. His hundreds of boardings on both of these tours have resulted in multiple successful confiscations of illegal weapons, narcotics, and other illicit goods.
Ashore, he was chosen for the Graduate Education Plus Teaching (GE+T) program, where he completed a one year in-residence Masters at George Mason University. After graduation, he joined the faculty of the History Department at the United States Naval Academy as a Master Instructor of History, in addition to electing to join the Seamanship and Navigation Department. There he taught midshipmen American Naval History, Maritime Irregular Warfare, Basic Seamanship, and Surface Warfare Officer Practicum. While in the SEANAV department, he earned his Craftmaster insignia.
After graduating from Department Head School, he reported to USS LITTLE ROCK (LCS 9) – Gold, Crew 115, as the Combat Systems Officer and VBSS officer, homeported in Mayport, FL. Following his first Department Head tour, he was selected for Early Command and reported to USS DEXTROUS (MCM 13), forward deployed in Manama, Bahrain, as the Executive Officer.
LCDR Cumpston has operated extensively in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleet AORs, and deployed in support of Operations Martillo, Active Endeavour, Oaken Lotus, and Inherent Resolve. He is the recipient of the 2016 Admiral Arleigh Burke Surface Warfare Operational Excellence Award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as various unit and campaign awards. He is married to the former Kelsey Olsen and share a son, Arleigh.