CDR Emily Merritt

EXECUTIVE OFFICER, USS KIDD (DDG 100)

01 September 2025 Commander Emily Merritt is a native of Columbia, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training in 2009.

Her first division officer tour was onboard USS NASSAU (LHA 4) as the Auxiliaries Division Officer in Norfolk, VA where she deployed in response to OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE HAITI and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) in CENTCOM, and received two consecutive Battle E’s. She served as Damage Control Assistant and Assistant Chief Engineer onboard USS SAN JACINTO (CG 56) in

Norfolk, VA and was awarded the Battle E and TYCOM Engineering Excellence awards. Commander Merritt served as Operations Officer and INSURV Coordinator onboard USS McCAMPBELL (DDG 85) forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan. She fleeted up onboard as the

Combat Systems Officer. During her tours, she conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations, Taiwan Straits Transits, and strike group patrols as alternate Air Defense Commander in INDOPACOM AOR.

Ashore, Commander Merritt earned her Master’s Degree from the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey,

California in European National Security Affairs and completed JPME Phase I. She served as Flag Aide to US Naval Forces Southern Command/US FOURTH Fleet where she executed high-visibility international and joint events throughout the SOUTHCOM AOR. Commander Merritt served as a Congressional Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs and managed the Navy's Readiness portfolio. She then served as Deputy Legislative Assistant for the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Senior Legislative Advisor to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Her awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Meritorious Unit Command Medal, three Battle E Awards, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Expeditionary Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal.