Captain John Bauer currently serves as Commander, Supervisor of Diving and Salvage (SEA00C), Director of Ocean Engineering for Naval Sea Systems Command.
Captain John Bauer, a native of Westlake, Ohio, first enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and served as a member of the Seabees’ Underwater Construction Teams until 2000, when he was selected to serve as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer.
Captain Bauer holds a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior University and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, along with a Total Ship Systems Engineering Certificate from the Naval Postgraduate School. He later earned a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate in Leadership from the University of Phoenix. He also holds a certificate in Leadership in Business Management from Harvard University.
His operational assignments include serving as First Lieutenant aboard USS Grapple (ARS 53), where he participated in one of the first post-9/11 deployments to the Arabian Gulf. After his EOD tour, he transitioned to the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community in 2004, completing his qualification tour at the Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) in Yokosuka, Japan. He also deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, serving as Security Officer for J9 with the U.S. Army.
As a Project Manager in NAVSEA’s Salvage and Diving Directorate, Captain Bauer led critical repair efforts for USS Porter (DDG 78) in Dubai, following its collision with a supertanker. He also served as the Division Head for Amphibious and CVN Maintenance at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, where he executed the Navy’s first Joint Strike Fighter modernization package.
Captain Bauer served as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center Detachment Bahrain, supporting future fleet operations. He later became the Program Manager Representative for the DDG 1000 Class at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath, overseeing the delivery of USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). Subsequently, he led Post Delivery efforts for the DDG 1000 Class in San Diego, managing Combat Systems Activation and Post-Shakedown Availabilities for both USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) and USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001).
In March 2021, Captain Bauer assumed command of the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), leading the repair, maintenance, and modernization of vessels in the San Diego Area of Operations. He played a key role in preparing ships for critical missions in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, six Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, reflecting his exemplary leadership and contributions to the U.S. Navy and the nation.