Commanding Officer
Paul Courtney Stewart Captain, United States Navy
Captain Stewart reported to the Naval Research Laboratory as the Commanding Officer in September 2008. From 2005 to 2008, Captain Stewart was assigned to the Office of Naval Research as the Deputy Director for the Ocean Battlespace Sensing Department and the Division Director of the Ocean, Atmospheric and Space Sensing and Systems Division; additionally, he served as the U.S. National Liaison Officer to the NATO Undersea Research Center in La Spezia, Italy.
In 2003, Captain Stewart was selected and served as the Commanding Officer/Director of the National Ice Center in Washington, DC, a NOAA, USN and USCG Command. From 2002 to 2003, Captain Stewart attended the National War College; prior to that he served as the Special Assistant for Ocean Resources and International Activities to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment) and in 2000, Captain Stewart reported to the Oceanographer of the Navy (OPNAV 096) as a special requirements officer. Captain Stewart was assigned as the assistant Oceanography and Meteorology assignment and placement officer from 1997 to 2000 at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC, also making the Bureau's transition to Tennessee in 1998.
Prior to his Bureau tour, Captain Stewart was on the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) as Staff Oceanographer and Assistant Operations Officer. The Battle Group participated in extensive operations in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf; additionally, he qualified as Fleet Tactical Action Officer.
From 1992 to 1995, Captain Stewart served at the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Pearl Harbor where he qualified as Command Duty Officer and Typhoon Duty Officer; additionally, he served his Department Head tours as Technical Services Officer and Fleet Services Officer. Captain Stewart attended graduate school from 1990 to 1992. From 1987 to 1990, Captain Stewart was assigned to the Pre-Commissioning Unit Princeton and following extensive Aegis training, he commissioned USS Princeton (CG-59) in February 1989 as the Combat Information Center and Assistant Operations Officer. Princeton participated in combat systems qualification tests and evaluation of the new SPY-1B radar and fired 24 Tomahawk, Harpoon and SM-2 missiles. Princeton then completed extensive workups and training enroute to the Gulf War. Captain Stewart's first operational assignment was on board USS Constant (MSO-427), home ported in San Diego, California, from 1985 to 1987. Captain Stewart served as First Lieutenant, Supply Officer, Mine Counter Measures Officer and Executive Officer during this tour and qualified as an unrestricted line Surface Warfare Officer.
Captain Paul Courtney Stewart, a native of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, graduated Cum Laude from Hartwick College of Oneonta, New York, in May 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He was commissioned an Ensign in 1984 at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Stewart holds a Master of Science degree in Physics (Meteorology and Oceanography) from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. A member of the Acquisition Professional Community, Captain Stewart is a certified level III Acquisition Professional in Science and Technology Management (STM). He is a member of the Space Cadre Officer Corps.
Captain Stewart's awards include: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars in lieu of third award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold stars in lieu of fourth award, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Medal, Expert Rifleman Medal and Expert Pistol Medal.
