CAPT Douglas Graber

Past Commanding Officer, USS New Orleans (LPD 18)

27 September 2021 Capt. Douglas Graber is a native of South Bound Brook, New Jersey, and earned an Electrical Engineering degree from Drexel University in 1996. After commissioning from Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, he was designated a naval flight officer in March 1999. He then reported to VAQ-129 in Whidbey Island for training as an EA-6B Prowler electronic countermeasures officer.

He served in multiple operational squadrons including Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, and Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131.

In 2012, Graber qualified as an electronic warfare operator in the EA-18G Growler and served as commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138.

His sea assignments included deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), and Executive Officer of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

Graber’s shore and staff assignments have included instructor duty at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, staff for Test and Evaluation Requirements in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), staff for the Director, Naval Warfare Integration Group at OPNAV, staff for Assessments and Requirements Division at OPNAV, and military assistant to the Executive Secretary of Defense at the Office of Secretary of Defense.

He is currently scheduled to take command of USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in Sasebo, Japan in September 2021.

His awards include a Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal (with Combat “V” distinction), Strike/Flight Air Medals (seven awards), Navy Commendation Medals (three awards) and Navy Achievement Medals (three awards) and various campaign and unit citations.