Captain Mark Bruington, USN, assumed the duties as the Naval Research Laboratory's 38th Commanding Officer during a formal Change of Command ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Friday, August 1, 2014. Captain Bruington succeeds Captain Anthony J. Ferrari, USN, who retired following two years as Commanding Officer of NRL, and 28 years of Naval service.
As Commanding Officer, Captain Bruington directs the research efforts of approximately 2,500 NRL scientists and engineers who conduct a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development in the areas of materials science, systems, ocean and atmospheric sciences, and space sciences for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and other federal agencies.
Prior to his assumption of command of NRL, CAPT Bruington was the Principal Director, Programs at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency where he led a team charged with DoD humanitarian assistance, building partnership capacity and Foreign Military Training and Equipping U.S. partner nations.