LCDR William T. Kranz
Executive Officer, USS Tortuga (LSD 46)
22 August 2023
Lieutenant Commander Kranz, a native of Richmond, Virginia graduated in 2007 from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Lieutenant Commander Kranz began his naval career at Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island where he was commissioned an Ensign in 2008. He later earned his Masters Degree at the Naval War College in Defense and Strategic studies in 2022 and is a Maritime Advanced Warfare School (MAWS) graduate.
At sea, he served as Electronic Warfare Officer and later as the Combat Information Center Officer onboard the forward deployed Naval Ship USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54), Fire Control Officer aboard USS ESSEX (LHD 2) and USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) FDNF crew, Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52), and Operations Officer for DESTROYER SQUADRON TWO SIX embarked onboard USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69).
In his initial shore assignment LCDR Kranz was the Information Operations Officer and S-6 Department Head for Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Afghanistan. Following this tour LCDR Kranz was assigned to SEAL Team THREE as the Current Operations Officer and deployed as Operations Officer to Task Unit Horseman deploying to various locations conducting Counter Terrorism operations.
LCDR Kranz has been awarded multiple Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medals (four awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Army Combat Action Badge and various campaign, service, and unit awards.
LCDR Kranz is currently the Executive Officer aboard USS TORTUGA (LSD 46).