CDR Dirk Sonnenberg

Past Executive Officer, USS Ashland (LSD 48)

15 May 2021 CDR Dirk Sonnenberg received his commission in 2004 from the University of Arizona NROTC program in Tucson, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in History, as well as a Master of Arts in Security Studies for Homeland Defense and Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI), and the Executive Officer of USS ASHLAND (LSD 48).

CDR Sonnenberg has served at sea as Operations Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) in Norfolk, VA and Mayport, FL, Navigation Officer in onboard USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54) in Yokosuka, Japan, and Strike Officer in USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG 62) and USS SHILOH (CG 67) also in Yokosuka, Japan.

Ashore, he served as Director, Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ship Support Unit Japan, in Yokohama, Japan, Deputy Operations Officer for Commander, Task Force 76/Expeditionary Strike Group Seven in Okinawa, Japan and as Exercise/Operations Staff Officer in Commander, Naval Forces Korea in Seoul, South Korea.

Awards and achievements include; Selected for O5 Command Afloat, COMNAVSURFLANT Finalist for Surface Warfare Officer of the Year and earned Navy and Marine Association Peer Leadership Award. Other awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medals (5 awards), the Navy Achievement Medals (three awards) and the Battle “E” Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (9 awards), and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5 awards), as well as various unit and campaign awards. He attended SMWDC’s inaugural Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor course becoming one of the first Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructors.