A native of in Minnesota, he enlisted in the Navy in 1987 as a Fire Control Technician, was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1994 and was commissioned in 1997.

At sea he has served aboard USS ARKANSAS (CGN 41), USS RAMAGE (DDG 61), USS CHOSIN (CG 65), USS RUSSELL (DDG 59) and USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57), and was embarked in USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75).

 

He holds the honor of being the Commissioning Commanding Officer of USS JOHN FINN (DDG 113). He commanded Patrol Coastal Crew MIKE. During this time he commanded USS THUNDERBOLT (PC 12) in Little Creek, VA and USS FIREBOLT (PC 10) in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

His shore assignments include NSWC Port Hueneme Division, CNO Staff (N86) and Navy Air and Missile Defense Command.

 

He attended the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting earning a Masters of Military Sciences degree and a Masters of Operational Studies degree respectively.

 

His most recent assignment was ACOS, OPS and Plans for Commander, CARRIER Strike Group EIGHT where he deployed to the high north in the Navy’s first DFE deployment in 2018 and deployed with HSTCSG again to FIFTH Fleet from November 2019 to May of 2020.

 

Captain Wagner has been awarded the Battle Effectiveness ribbon seven times on the various ships he has served aboard. He has also been awarded numerous additional service medals and unit awards.