Captain Todd E. Hutchison was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina, with a double major in Management and Marketing.
In November 1995, Hutchison reported to Recruit Training Command in Chicago. After graduating from boot camp, he reported to Nuclear Machinist’s Mate ‘A’ School in Orlando, Florida, then was a student at Nuclear Power School before completing his nuclear qualification at Nuclear Prototype Training Unit in Goose Creek, South Carolina. While at Prototype, he was accepted for Officer Candidate School, and he was commissioned in November 1997.
After commissioning, Hutchison reported to Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island. In August 1998, he reported to the Pre-Commissioning Detachment for USS O’KANE (DDG 77) as the Plankowner Damage Control Assistant, qualifying as a Surface Warfare Officer and Engineering Officer of the Watch. In April 2001, he reported onboard USS CROMMELIN (FFG 37), serving as the Ordnance and Fire Control Officer. Following that tour, Hutchison participated in the Navy Washington, D.C. Internship Program (NWIP), where in addition to earning his Master of Arts in Organizational Management from The George Washington University, he completed internships on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations Future Ships Branch (OPNAV N763); the Chief of Naval Operations’ Executive Panel (N00K), and the Capabilities and Acquisition Division of the Joint Staff (J-8).
Hutchison reported to USS CHAFEE (DDG 90) in March 2005 as the Operations Officer, deploying to 5th Fleet as part of the NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group. He next served as the Staff Operations Officer (N3) at Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50, stationed in Bahrain. Upon completion of his tour, he returned to Washington, D.C., where he served as a Force Structure Analyst at the Assessments Division of the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (N812) from 2007 to 2009. Hutchison next served as a Budget Analyst in the Program and Budget Analysis Division of the Joint Staff Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate (J-8) from 2009 to 2012.
In May 2013, Hutchison reported to USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112) as Executive Officer, serving in that role during the ship’s Post-Shakedown Availability and initial Basic and Advanced Training Phases. Hutchison assumed command of USS MICHAEL MURPHY in September 2014, just prior to deploying to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility on her maiden deployment. Following that tour, he served as the Director of the Command at Sea Department (N75) at Surface Warfare Officers School. From 2018 to 2019, Hutchison attended the U.S. Naval War College (NWC), earning his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Upon completion of his time at NWC, Hutchison reported to the Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)) Program Office (PMS 515) at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., where he first served as the Deputy Principal Assistant Program Manager (PAPM) for the Systems Integration and Test Branch (515W), and then as PAPM for the Test and Evaluation Branch (515T).
In July 2020, Hutchison assumed command of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, where he led more than 2,800 government civilians who provided the Navy with a broad range of technical products and support services related to surface and undersea platforms. From May 2023 until March 2025, Hutchison served as the Major Program Manager for Large Surface Combatant Modernization and Sustainment (PMS 421) at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters. Hutchison is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for the Director for Surface Ship Maintenance, Modernization, and Sustainment (SEA 21).