PANAMA CITY, Florida – Cmdr. Nick Artabazon returns to Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU), but this time it’s to take command while outgoing NEDU Commanding Officer Cmdr. Dustin Cunningham says farewell to active-duty service.
Artabazon, a native of Richmond, Va., served at NEDU from 2019-2021 as the Test and Evaluation Department Head. He is an Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) and Diving Officer. He now serves as NEDU’s 19th Commanding Officer.
“NEDU has pushed the boundaries of what humans can do in the sea, since 1927," said Artabazon. "I am deeply honored to have the privilege of leading your exceptional team. Your dedication and expertise have made this place truly special, and I look forward to working alongside each of you as we celebrate that legacy and push even further into new discoveries.”
Artabazon graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2008 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry. He was commissioned in 2009 from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics from Naval Postgraduate School. Cmdr. Artabazon is a qualified Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) and Diving Officer.
Cmdr. Artabazon’ s full biography is available online at: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/SUPSALV/NEDU/Command-Leadership/
"My time at NEDU has been a profound privilege," said Cunningham. "A command's strength is its people, and this team—military and civilian—is unparalleled in its selfless dedication. We didn't just share a mission; we forged a family with a common purpose. The pride of having served them is something I will carry with me always."
Cunningham served as NEDU’s commanding officer from March 2022 to February 2026. During that time, Cunningham led the command to complete over 150 high-risk operations and experimental research protocols, advancing Warfighting capabilities across the diving Navy, Joint Force and interagency partners. NEDU, as a shore activity, and its sea-going NEDU Saturation Detachment (NSD) completed critical projects, including novel decompression procedures for disabled submarine rescue, the first international deployment of the Saturation Fly-Away Diving System for Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recovery operations, and manned-trials for the 21st Century decompression tables, the first major update of HELIOX decompression tables since 1939.
As a Team, NEDU completed the U.S. Navy’s most high-risk dives totaling an unprecedented 4,229 dives and over 1.5 million minutes of bottom time with zero safety-related incidents. Moreover, NEDU recapitalized the Ocean Simulation Facility (OSF) and Experimental Diving Facility (EDF) by championing several POM issues, successfully securing over $17M in future funding that will ensure NEDU’s mission continues without issue.
NEDU earned the Navy’s Retention Excellency Award three times, advanced over a dozen Sailors to the ranks of E-5 and E-6, in addition to 19 Sailors selected for Chief Petty Officer, three to Senior Chief and three to Master Chief and two enlisted divers selected for officer programs. Additionally, under his leadership NEDU had eight divers complete the rigorous Master Diver qualification and evaluation process - the highest rate in the last four years across all Navy diving commands.
Established May 12, 1927 in Washington D.C., NEDU is an echelon three Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity located in Panama City, Florida. NEDU’s Ocean Simulation Facility and Experimental Diving Facilities were established in Panama City, Florida in 1975 under the Naval Coastal Systems Center and was later established as its own command July 1,1977.
Today, NEDU’s mission is to conduct manned, unmanned and biomedical research, development, test and evaluation of diving, hyperbaric, life support and submersible systems and procedures to ensure all diving equipment and procedures meet the safety standards and operational requirements to expand the advantage in undersea and extreme environments. NEDU is aligned to NAVSEA headquarters in Washington D.C., through the Supervisor of Diving and Salvage.