Stuart Benjamin Munsch[1] (born 1962)[2] is a United States Navy admiral who serves as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples since June 27, 2022.[3] He most recently served as the director for joint force development, J7, of the Joint Staff from 2020 to 2022.[4][5][6]

Stuart B. Munsch
Born1962 (age 61–62)
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1985–present
RankAdmiral
Commands held
Awards
Alma mater

Early life and education edit

Munsch, a native of North Dakota, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. At the United States Naval Academy, he was brigade commander of the Class of 1985 and was an All-American and national champion pistol shooter. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship, he attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics.

Naval career edit

Munsch was assigned to four consecutive sea duty assignments, serving on USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), USS Jefferson City (SSN-759), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) on the staff of commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5, and USS Tucson (SSN-770). In 1999, Munsch reported ashore to U.S. Pacific Command, where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) prior to becoming deputy executive assistant to the commander. He then was selected for a White House Fellowship and served as special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Munsch commanded USS Albuquerque (SSN-706) from 2002 to 2005, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and then as executive assistant to the director, submarine warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N87).

Munsch commanded Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 5 from 2008 to 2010 and then returned to the Pentagon to head the Navy Strategy branch (OPNAV N513). Selected for flag rank, he was reassigned as deputy director, undersea warfare (OPNAV N97).

Sent overseas to Japan and Bahrain, Munsch commanded Submarine Group 7 and Task Forces 74 and 54 from 2013 to 2015, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. In 2017 Munsch reported to OPNAV N3/N5 as the assistant and in 2018 became the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy. In 2019 he established and served as the initial deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, N7. He assumed his role as director for joint force development (J7) in 2020.

Awards and decorations edit

 
         
         
   
     
 
   
        
 
 
 
Submarine Warfare Officer Insignia
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy "E" Ribbon, 1st award Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with three bronze service stars Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Deep Submergence Insignia in gold
Command at Sea insignia
Allied Joint Force Command Naples Badge

References edit

  1. ^ "PN60 — Civilian". U.S. Congress. February 23, 1985. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 106. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Munsch assumes command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa". U.S. Navy. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Vice Adm. Stuart B. Munsch". Joint Staff. Retrieved August 26, 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch Nominated as Joint Staff Director for Force Development". May 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Navy Quietly Stands up Warfighting Development Directorate (OPNAV N7)". November 12, 2019.

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

Military offices
Preceded by Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
2015–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Operations, Plans and Strategy of the United States Navy
2018-2019
Succeeded by
New office Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development of the United States Navy
2019–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director for Joint Force Development of the Joint Staff
2020–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa
2022–present
Incumbent