Captain Jon C. Kreitz Commanding Officer
Captain Kreitz enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1982 as a Machinist’s Mate. After a tour on board the USS NASSAU (LHA 4), he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physics and received a commission through the NROTC program at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Upon commissioning, Captain Kreitz served on the USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) as Auxiliaries Officer, First Lieutenant, and Assistant Supply Officer from 1987 to 1990, which included multiple Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployments. He served as the commissioning Operations Officer on USS MITSCHER (DDG 57) from 1993 to 1997, making MITSCHER’s maiden Mediterranean deployment. His next sea duty assignment was as the Damage Control Assistant on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) from 2000 to 2002. While on ENTERPRISE, he completed an extended Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, and North Arabian Sea deployment, which included combat operations in support Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. He was the Commanding Officer of USS STEPHEN W GROVES (FFG 29) from 2006 to 2007, where his crew interdicted nearly 20 metric tons of cocaine during two counter narco-terrorism operations deployments. Captain Kreitz assumed command of USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) in June 2012.
Captain Kreitz’ shore duty includes a tour at the Headquarters, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command as a Branch Head and as the Executive Assistant to the Director for Manpower, Personnel and Administration. He has also served three tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), first as the Director of Special Projects, Deputy Executive Assistant, Branch Head for Manpower Policy, and Branch Head for Mobilization Plans and Policy for the Chief of Navy Reserve (OPNAV N095). Next he served as the Strategy and Alignment Branch Head for the Director of Surface Warfare (OPNAV N86). Most recently, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force.
Captain Kreitz has a Master of Science Degree in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He also earned a Master of Military Art and Science Degree in Strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and is a past fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI program.