JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Naval Weapons Station Charleston welcomed a new commander Sept. 9 during a change of command ceremony.
Captain Ralph Ward assumed command of NWS from Cmdr. Gary Martin, who will be assuming command of Naval Magazine Indian Island in Washington.
His tenure will be short-lived though, as he will become the Deputy Commander of Joint Base Charleston, Oct. 1, 2010. In his capacity as Deputy Commander, he will also be serving as Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activity Charleston, which will stand up Oct. 1.
Captain Ward, a native of Los Alamos, N.M., graduated from the United States Naval Academy with distinction in May 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. After completing submarine training in April 1984, he reported to USS Pollack (SSN 603) in San Diego, Calif. During this tour, he served in a variety of division officer assignments, completed two Western Pacific deployments and earned his submarine gold dolphins.
In July 1987, he was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he earned a Master of Science degree in Physics. Captain Ward then reported in June 1990 as Engineer Officer of the pre-commissioning Unit Boise in Newport News, Va.
In July 1993, he was assigned as Material Officer at Submarine Squadron Seventeen in Bangor, Wash. From November 1995 through September 1997, he served as Executive Officer aboard USS Henry M. Jackson (Blue) (SSBN 730), homeported in Bangor. Captain Ward then served as Operations Officer on the Pacific Submarine Force Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team from October 1997 until August 1999.
Captain Ward commanded USS Buffalo (SSN 715) between May 2000 and July 2002, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hi. Under his leadership, Buffalo completed a deployment to the Western Pacific and was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E."
From July 2002 to July 2005, Captain Ward served as Deputy for Operations and Intelligence (N2/3) and then as Chief of Staff at Submarine Group Seven in Yokosuka, Japan.
He then reported to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy in June 2006.
In July 2006, Captain Ward assumed command of Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston.