Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

CAPT Thomas C. Kait Jr. (April 2011 - February 2017)

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Captain Kait was raised in Angola, New York and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Science.

His afloat tours included First Division Officer aboard USS DENVER (LPD 9), LCAC detachment Officer in Charge and later became the Operations Officer for ASSAULT CRAFT UNIT FOU​R. In October 2000, he reported to USS TORTUGA (LSD 46) as served as First Lieutenant and deployed for a Baltic Sea/North Atlantic exercise working with Swedish Marines and deployed as the flag ship for NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Atlantic maritime operations. In July 2002, he took command of USS ZEPHYR (PC 8) which included CONUS Homeland Security patrols and a deployment to the Arabian Gulf on USS TYPHOON (PC 5). December of 2006, he reported to USS FORT McHENRY (LSD 43) as the Executive Officer and deployed as the flag ship for the inaugural AFRICA PARTNERSIP STATION to the west coast of Africa. Captain Kait reported as Executive Officer on SAN ANTONIO in February 2010 and assumed command in July of 2010 where he led the extensive maintenance overhaul and prepared the ship for a successful INSURV inspection and deployment to the Sixth and Fifth Fleet operating areas.

Ashore, he served on the staff of COMMANDER, US NAVAL SURFACE FORCES ATLANTIC as the Current Operations Officer in the N3 directorate and deployed to Iraq in October 2008 where he supervised the operation of the world’s largest Tactical Petroleum Terminal which supplied 60% of the fuel to coalition forces in Iraq. In 2012, he served on the Joint Staff, J7 South as an Information Operations Observer Trainer where he was selected as a Lead Observer Trainer and had the primary responsibility for United States Forces Korea exercises. He also served as Team Chief where he led teams to observe and train the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the Judicious Response exercise cycle.

Captain Kait attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Transportation Management.

Captain Kait’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal and various unit and service awards.