CDR Courtney N. Towles

Commanding Officer, USS Canberra (LCS 30) Gold Crew

30 May 2025 Commander Courtney Towles is a native of Fullerton, California, and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2008, CDR Towles graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s of Science in Oceanography.

As a Division Officer at sea, CDR Towles has served as Repair Division Officer and Combat Information Center Officer aboard USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41) and Navigator aboard USS MASON (DDG 87). Her first Department Head tour was as the First Lieutenant on USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45). For her second Department Head tour, she commissioned USS KANSAS CITY (LCS 22) and served as Operations Officer on LCS Crew 218. CDR Towles completed her Executive Officer tour for LCS Crew 228 and fleeted up to Commanding Officer.

Ashore, CDR Towles served as the Surface Warfare Enterprise Acquisitions Officer at Naval Education and Training Command, Det Norfolk. She completed the ASW/SUW WTI course in 2021 and completed a tour as an instructor for Surface Advanced Warfighting School (SAWS).

Her personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (1 award), and various unit and service awards.