Commander Michael S. Dwan
Commanding Officer

A native of Port Monmouth, New Jersey, CDR Mike Dwan enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1991 and served as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator (AW) in PATROL SQUADRON SIXTEEN (VP 16). In 1996, he was selected from the Fleet for a Naval ROTC scholarship earning his commission from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. CDR Dwan has also earned a Master's of Science Degree in Information Warfare Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Afloat assignments include Division Officer tours in USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80) as Electrical Officer and in USS CAPE ST GEORGE (CG 71) as Training Officer. His Department Head tour was as Weapons Officer fleeting up as Combat Systems Officer in USS MILIUS (DDG 69). In addition, CDR Dwan served as Executive Officer, USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53).

Ashore, he served as the Ballistic Missile Defense Plans Officer at U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command; as the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) Requirements Officer on the Chief of Naval Operations Director Surface Warfare Staff (OPNAV N96); as the Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) Branch Lead for Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) Headquarters; and the Doctrine & Tactics Branch Head (N5) at SMWDC IAMD Division. CDR Dwan is also an IAMD Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI).

Awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Navy Good Conduct Medal. He is the recipient of both the Surface Warfare Officer's School “VADM John D. Bulkeley Distinguished Graduate” and the “Arleigh Burke Prize for Excellence” awards along with other personal, unit, and various campaign awards.