Rear Admiral Tom Druggan

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Rear Admiral Tom Druggan attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1989. He attended the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School, formerly Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2006 with a Master of Science in National Resource Management. He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, graduating in 1995 with a Master of Science in Operations Research.

At sea, Druggan served as commanding officer of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) destroyer USS O’KANE (DDG 77). He also served as the executive officer of USS LASSEN (DDG 82), commissioning combat systems officer aboard USS O’KANE (DDG 77) and combat systems officer aboard USS ELLIOT (DD 967). He completed his initial sea tour as navigator and anti-submarine warfare officer aboard USS CALLAGHAN (DDG 994).

 Ashore, he served as Major Program Manager (MPM) for AEGIS Combat Systems in the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS 1.0). He also served as Major Program Manager for In-Service AEGIS Fleet Readiness (PEO IWS 1.0F) and previously as principal assistant program manager for In-Service Aircraft Carrier Combat System Integration, directly supporting Program Executive Office  for Aircraft Carriers. Druggan’s Pentagon tours include special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), special assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), the 2001 Navy Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) staff, and as a founding member of the Navy Operations Group Deep Blue.

Druggan’s previous assignment was the Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), located at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. In this position, he led more than 17,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel, both civilian and active duty, stationed at eight NSWC divisions located across the United States. NSWC provides research, development, test and evaluation for the future Navy as well as in-service engineering and logistics support for the operational naval forces.  Druggan was also assigned additional duties as the Department of Defense Executive Manager for Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technology and Training, with oversight responsibilities for joint military EOD systems and training.

Druggan is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (four awards), in addition to various service and unit awards.