Executive Officer: CDR Dave L. Stebbins, USN
Commander Dave Stebbins was born and raised in Spring Valley, Illinois. He earned his commission from the NROTC program at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1996, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He completed the Surface Warfare Officer Division Officer Course in 1997 and was designated a Surface Warfare Officer in 1998. Additionally, he is a 2010 Graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and Kansas State University where he earned a Master of Science in Adult Occupational and Continuing Education.
His initial Division Officer assignment was Repair Division Officer and Assistant Damage Control Officer aboard USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7) from June 1997 to April 1999. His second Division Officer tour was on USS CUSHING (DD 985) in Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as Navigator and Administrative Officer from June 1999 to December 2000.
Department Head tours included Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard USS PRINCETON (CG 59) from May 2004 to October 2007 where he was named the 2005 Tactician of the Year for Carrier Strike Group ELEVEN, THIRD FLEET and PACIFIC FLEET. While assigned to PRINCETON, he volunteered for a counter terrorism IA in the Philippines as a part of Joint Task Force 515 from May to October 2007. His third Department Head assignment was as Navigator, Senior Watch Officer and COMPHIBRON THREE Staff Navigator aboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5) from December 2007 to December 2009.
Following his Department Head tours, he served as Executive Officer of USS STERETT (DDG 104) from July 2011 to September 2012 during which time STERETT earned the Battle “E” and all warfare excellence awards for both 2011 and 2012. CDR Stebbins has completed five deployments to the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet Areas of Operation from 1998-2012.
Shore tours include Nautical Science Instructor at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Physical Security Officer at Naval Submarine Base, New London in Groton, CT from 2001 to 2003 and student at the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS from January to December 2010. From October 2012 to November 2015 CDR Stebbins was the Opposition Forces Director at Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN, responsible for designing and directing enemy surface, subsurface, air and electronic warfare threat presentations for certification exercises for all carrier and amphibious strike groups as well as Independent Deployers on the west coast.
From December 2015 to July 2020 he served as the Deputy Director of the Navy Element at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, as well as acting Director from May 2018 to May 2019. He currently serves as Executive Officer and Associate Professor of Naval Science for the Navy ROTC unit at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
Commander Stebbins’ awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), in addition to various campaign and unit awards.
His initial Division Officer assignment was Repair Division Officer and Assistant Damage Control Officer aboard USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7) from June 1997 to April 1999. His second Division Officer tour was on USS CUSHING (DD 985) in Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as Navigator and Administrative Officer from June 1999 to December 2000.
Department Head tours included Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard USS PRINCETON (CG 59) from May 2004 to October 2007 where he was named the 2005 Tactician of the Year for Carrier Strike Group ELEVEN, THIRD FLEET and PACIFIC FLEET. While assigned to PRINCETON, he volunteered for a counter terrorism IA in the Philippines as a part of Joint Task Force 515 from May to October 2007. His third Department Head assignment was as Navigator, Senior Watch Officer and COMPHIBRON THREE Staff Navigator aboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5) from December 2007 to December 2009.
Following his Department Head tours, he served as Executive Officer of USS STERETT (DDG 104) from July 2011 to September 2012 during which time STERETT earned the Battle “E” and all warfare excellence awards for both 2011 and 2012. CDR Stebbins has completed five deployments to the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet Areas of Operation from 1998-2012.
Shore tours include Nautical Science Instructor at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Physical Security Officer at Naval Submarine Base, New London in Groton, CT from 2001 to 2003 and student at the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS from January to December 2010. From October 2012 to November 2015 CDR Stebbins was the Opposition Forces Director at Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN, responsible for designing and directing enemy surface, subsurface, air and electronic warfare threat presentations for certification exercises for all carrier and amphibious strike groups as well as Independent Deployers on the west coast.
From December 2015 to July 2020 he served as the Deputy Director of the Navy Element at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, as well as acting Director from May 2018 to May 2019. He currently serves as Executive Officer and Associate Professor of Naval Science for the Navy ROTC unit at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
Commander Stebbins’ awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), in addition to various campaign and unit awards.