Stuart B. Munsch

Stuart Benjamin Munsch^[1] (born 1962)^[2] is a United States Navy admiral who serves as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples since June 27, 2022.^[3] He most recently served as the director for joint force development, J7, of the Joint Staff from 2020 to 2022.^[4][5][6]

Stuart B. Munsch
Born	1962 (age 61–62)
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1985–present
Rank	Admiral
Commands	United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa Allied Joint Force Command Naples Submarine Development Squadron 5 Submarine Group 7 USS Albuquerque
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5)
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS) University of Oxford (BA, MA)

Munsch is also the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty, having received the title and accompanying decanter from John C. Aquilino on June 26, 2024.^[7]

Early life and education

Munsch, a native of North Dakota, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. At the United States Naval Academy, he was brigade commander of the Class of 1985 and was an All-American and national champion pistol shooter. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship, he attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics.

Naval career

Munsch was assigned to four consecutive sea duty assignments, serving on USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), USS Jefferson City (SSN-759), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) on the staff of commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5, and USS Tucson (SSN-770). In 1999, Munsch reported ashore to U.S. Pacific Command, where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) prior to becoming deputy executive assistant to the commander. He then was selected for a White House Fellowship and served as special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Munsch commanded USS Albuquerque (SSN-706) from 2002 to 2005, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and then as executive assistant to the director, submarine warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N87).

Munsch commanded Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 5 from 2008 to 2010 and then returned to the Pentagon to head the Navy Strategy branch (OPNAV N513). Selected for flag rank, he was reassigned as deputy director, undersea warfare (OPNAV N97).

Sent overseas to Japan and Bahrain, Munsch commanded Submarine Group 7 and Task Forces 74 and 54 from 2013 to 2015, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. In 2017 Munsch reported to OPNAV N3/N5 as the assistant and in 2018 became the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy. In 2019 he established and served as the initial deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, N7. He assumed his role as director for joint force development (J7) in 2020.

Awards and decorations

Submarine Warfare Officer Insignia
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Navy Distinguished Service Medal		Defense Superior Service Medal		Legion of Merit with four gold award stars
Defense Meritorious Service Medal		Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars		Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star		Joint Meritorious Unit Award		Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation		Navy "E" Ribbon, 1st award		Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star		Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal		Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal		Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service star
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with three bronze service stars		Navy Expert Rifleman Medal		Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Deep Submergence Insignia in gold
Command at Sea insignia
Allied Joint Force Command Naples Badge

References

1. "PN60 — Civilian". U.S. Congress. February 23, 1985. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
2. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 106. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
3. "Munsch assumes command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa". U.S. Navy. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
4. "Vice Adm. Stuart B. Munsch". Joint Staff. Retrieved August 26, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
5. "Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch Nominated as Joint Staff Director for Force Development". May 14, 2020.
6. "Navy Quietly Stands up Warfighting Development Directorate (OPNAV N7)". November 12, 2019.
7. Hardgrove, Samuel (June 28, 2024). "NAVEUR-NAVAF Commander becomes U.S. Navy's Old Goat". U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. Washington, D. C.: U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs. Retrieved July 7, 2024.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

Military offices
Preceded by Eric M. Smith	Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense 2015–2017	Succeeded by Matthew McFarlane
Preceded by James J. Malloy	Deputy Chief of Operations, Plans and Strategy of the United States Navy 2018-2019	Succeeded by Phillip G. Sawyer
New office	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development of the United States Navy 2019–2020	Succeeded by Lisa Franchetti
Preceded by Daniel J. O'Donohue	Director for Joint Force Development of the Joint Staff 2020–2022	Succeeded by Dagvin Anderson
Preceded by Robert P. Burke	Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa 2022–present	Incumbent