Cmdr. Gary Bickel
Commanding Officer, USS BELOIT (LCS 29)
05 February 2025
Commander Bickel is a native of Greenville, Ohio. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1994 and completed his Nuclear Pipeline training in August 1995. He graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2004, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Technology. Upon graduation, he was selected for Officer Candidate School and earned his naval commission in January 2006. He received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida in 2012 and is a Schriever Space Scholar Graduate where he was awarded Joint Professional Military Education I and the Master of Military Operational Art and Science Degree.
CDR Bickel’s sea tours include USS PASADENA (SSN-752) serving as Electricians Mate Leading Petty Officer from 1995-2000; USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80) as Auxiliary Officer and Navigator from 2006-2009, sailing with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and IWO JIMA Expeditionary Strike Group in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80) as Weapons and Combat Systems Officer from 2013-2016, sailing with GEORGE H. W. BUSH and DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Groups in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in the Arabian Gulf; USS CHAFEE (DDG 90) as Executive Officer from 2021-2022, sailing with CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group in the Western Pacific.
Ashore, CDR Bickel supported the Nuclear Field ‘A’ School Charleston as an Instructor and Master Training Specialist from 2000-2005, served as a Training Liaison Officer for Afloat Training Group Mayport from 2009-2011, served as Director of Training for Afloat Training Group Mayport from 2016-2020, and served as Director of Planning and Readiness for Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two from 2023-2024.
CDR Bickel has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corp Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various other personal, unit, and campaign service medals and ribbons.