Commander Brian A. Forster
Commanding Officer (Gold)  

Commander Brian Forster received his commission from the United States Navy Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics while a member of the Varsity Wrestling team in Annapolis, Maryland. 

At sea, he served as the Repair Officer and Damage Control Officer on USS TAYLOR (FFG 50), Training Officer on USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68), Electronics Warfare Officer for US Army 46th Engineering Construction Battalion and United States Marine Corps Military, Police and Border Training Teams forward deployed to Al Anbar Province in Iraq. His department head experience includes assignments as the Operations Officer of USS STEPHEN W GROVES (FFG 29) and USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58). 

Ashore, Commander Forster attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Affairs, with a regional emphasis in Far East Asia. Later, he served as the cell lead for the Capabilities and Limitations curriculum as well as Information Operations at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island. Finally, he served in the Future Operations directorate at Commander Sixth Fleet working with our allies throughout Europe planning and coordinating various exercises. 
  
His last assignment was as the Executive Officer in USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) from August 2017 through August 2019 where the ship earned two Retention Excellence Awards, CNSP Tactics Award and VADM Copeman Material Readiness Award. Commander Forster's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (multiple awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.