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Home : Media : News
NEWS | April 30, 2018

Anderson Assumes Command of Naval Surface Warfare Center

By Naval Surface Warfare Center Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- Rear Admiral (select) Thomas J. Anderson assumed command of Naval Surface Warfare Center, April 30, at the Washington Navy Yard.

“It is an honor to serve as the 13th Commander of the Naval Surface Warfare Center,” said Anderson. “I look forward to leading the nearly nineteen thousand scientists and engineers who serve as the foundation of the Navy’s technical capability as we pursue the Navy the Nation Needs through execution of the NAVSEA Campaign Plan.” 

Anderson, a surface warfare officer and a native of North Brunswick, New Jersey, commissioned through the Navy ROTC Program at Boston University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1991. Upon selection to the Engineering Duty Community in 1996, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also completed the Total Ship Systems Engineering Curriculum and became a California State Licensed Professional Engineer. 

At sea, Anderson qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS Capodanno (FF 1093) where he served as Machinery and Boilers Division Officer, Main Propulsion Assistant and First Lieutenant; he also served aboard USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) as Auxiliaries and Electrical Officer, where he coordinated the first two CNO Availabilities of the DDG 51 Class. 

Ashore, he has served in a variety of industrial, fleet, program office and headquarters assignments in ship design and construction, maintenance, budgeting and requirements.  Those assignments included: Executive Assistant to COMNAVSEA; LCS Production Officer (PMS 501); OPNAV Requirements Officer (N86); Chief Engineer and Post Delivery Branch Head for the DDG 51 Class (PMS 400D); COMNAVSURFLANT Mine Warfare Type Desk Officer (N43); and Ship Superintendent and DDG/FFG Planning Yard Officer at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath. 

Anderson served for 5 years as Program Manager of the LCS Shipbuilding Program (PMS 501).  During his tenure he transitioned 2 tier two shipyards from single ship to serial production (facilities, design, and manpower), achieved IOC and conducted LFT&E for two ship variants, and is largely credited with stabilizing the LCS shipbuilding program. He was selected as the 2017 Navy Program Manager of the Year while serving as the LCS Program Manager.

The NAVSEA Warfare Centers are comprised of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and represent approximately 30 percent of the Navy’s engineering and scientific expertise. NSWC is comprised of eight echelon-four Divisions: Carderock, Corona, Crane, Dahlgren, Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology, Panama City, Philadelphia, and Port Hueneme, as well as one echelon- five command, Dam Neck Activity (part of Dahlgren). NUWC is comprised of two echelon-four Divisions: Newport and Keyport, as well as one echelon-five command, Naval Sea Logistics Center (part of Keyport). With more than 100 years of history, the NAVSEA Warfare Centers provide “full-spectrum” technical advice and solutions to our partners in support of naval platforms and systems.

                                                                                                - NAVSEA -