CDR Keith Tate

Past Commanding Officer, USS Ashland (LSD 48)

02 May 2021 Commander Keith Tate received his commission from Virginia Military Institute in 2004.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from VMI, as well as a Master of Science degree in National Defense and Security from the Naval War College.  He is an Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI), and the Commanding Officer of USS ASHLAND (LSD 48).
 
Commander Tate has served at sea as Operations Officer in USS ANCHORAGE (LPD 23), Combat Systems Officer in USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17), Training Officer in USS TRUXTUN (DDG 103), and First Division Officer in USS PONCE (LPD 15)  During these tours, he completed five middle-eastern deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch, and New Dawn.
 
Ashore, he has served as Requirements and Resources Branch Head for the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) Amphibious Warfare (AMW) Division where he and his team developed the 2017 and 2018 AMW Integrated Priorities Capabilities List.
 
Commander Tate reported aboard USS ASHLAND as the Executive Officer in October of 2019 and later assumed command in March 2021.
 
Commander Tate’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), the Battle “E” Ribbon (three awards), the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (six awards), as well as various unit and campaign awards.