CDR Benjamin C. Pearlswig

Commanding Officer, USS Germantown (LSD 42)

18 June 2025 Cmdr. Pearlswig is a native of Turner, Oregon.  He is a 2005 graduate from Oregon State University where he obtained his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program.  He is also a 2011 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Afloat, he has served all over the world working with allies and partners throughout the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet’s Area of Operations.  His first tour was on the USS Cole (DDG 67) where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and then participated in USS Cole’s first deployment to U.S. 5th Fleet following the attack in Oct of 2000.  He then joined Amphibious Squadron Four and deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group.  As a department head, he served onboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), forward deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan.  In 2015 he was selected for early command and reported to USS Warrior (MCM 10), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, where he served as the executive officer, and assumed command of USS Warrior in February 2018.  His most recent assignment was as the Executive Officer of USS SHILOH (CG 67).

Ashore Cmdr. Pearlswig worked in the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course (N76) at the Surface Warfare Officer's School (SWOS) in Newport, RI.  He also worked for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of the Warfighting Assessment and Readiness Directorate (N9WAR) working on various exercises and events to include the inaugural Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem and the Mine Warfare Realignment to Great Power Competition.

His personal achievements include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), the Battle “E” Efficiency award, and various unit and service awards.