CAPT Jeff W. Benson

Commanding Officer, PCU Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126)

01 December 2025 Captain Jeff W. Benson, United States Navy, commands the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), a new Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in Bath, Maine.

In a naval career spanning over 20 years, Captain Benson deployed to the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions, serving aboard four destroyers: USS John Young (DD 973), USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Milius (DDG 69), and USS Stethem (DDG 63). From 2015 to 2019, he led USS Stethem forward deployed in Japan as the ship’s Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, participating in numerous operations across the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan Strait transits, Freedom of Navigation operations, and multi-carrier operations. Captain Benson also served as the Operations Officer in Destroyer Squadron Fifteen while embarking aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Captain Benson most recently served as the Chief of Staff to the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. He has held various other staff positions, including in the Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate (J5) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), the Surface Warfare Officer's School, the Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group, and Texas A&M University Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). Early in his career, Captain Benson also worked on staff in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Congress, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Captain Benson earned his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School. He holds a Master of Public Service and Administration degree and a Certificate in Advanced International Affairs from The George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, as well as a Master of National Security and Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Naval War College and a Master of National Security Strategy degree from the National War College. Beyond his academic achievements, Captain Benson’s work has been published in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, and other media outlets.

Captain Benson’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Navy Commendation Medal (third award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Office of Naval Intelligence on the Spot Award, the Surface Warfare Officer’s School Arleigh Burke Award, the U.S. Navy League’s Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence, and the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service Outstanding Alumni Award.