CAPT Michael J. Welgan

Commanding Officer, USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) Gold Crew

12 May 2025 A native of Tioga Center, New York, Captain Welgan enlisted in the Navy as a Machinist Mate in 1996. After service aboard USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735), he was selected for the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training and was commissioned through NROTC upon graduation from the University of Mississippi in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.

Afloat, he previously commanded USS Germantown (LSD 42) after fleeting-up from a tour onboard as Executive Officer. He completed his first division officer tour aboard USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Main Propulsion Assistant where he made a deployment to the Eastern Pacific in support of Counter-Drug Operations and conducted an INSURV. His second tour was on USS Lake Erie (CG 70) as the Auxiliaries Officer, participating in multiple BMD and SM-3 test events, as well as deploying to the Western Pacific supporting Talisman Saber and Valiant Shield.

While serving as Chief Engineer aboard USS De Wert (FFG 45), he made two deployments, first to Commander Joint Task Force Horn of Africa in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group One taking part in Operation Ocean Shield, then to the Great Lakes for the War of 1812 Bicentennial. He was then assigned to LCS Crew 111 as the Operations Officer, where he embarked on USS Freedom (LCS 1), taking the ship from a dry dock availability through the pre-deployment training cycle.

Ashore, Welgan served multiple tours at Navy Personnel Command, previously as an analyst at the Center for Career Development, where he aided the Analytics Cell’s transition into BUPERS-34. More recently, his tour in Millington was served within PERS-41, where his role consisted as the Assistant Community Manager and as the Metrics and Analysis Lead for the Surface Warfare Community. Additionally, he completed an assignment at US Central Command Headquarters as a strategic planner within the J5 Plans Division, primarily focused on the great powers problem sets in the Middle Eastern region. While ashore, he completed a Master of Arts degree in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Science in National Security and Strategy from the University of Texas at El Paso, JPME I at the Naval War College and JPME II at the National Defense University.  Following his command tour, he completed assignments as Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) Director at Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (NSMWDC) and at Naval Surface Forces Pacific as the Commander’s Action Group Deputy Director.

Captain Welgan’s personal awards include multiple personal, unit and service awards.  He assumed command of the USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) Gold Crew in May 2025.