CDR Richard Jimenez

Past Commanding Officer, USS DECATUR (DDG 73)

15 November 2021 CDR Richard Jimenez is a native of El Paso, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems in 2002. He commissioned via Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL in November 2002. His first afloat assignments were as Main Propulsion Division Officer in USS LASSEN (DDG 82) from 2002 to 2005 and then as Damage Control Assistant in USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) from 2005 to 2007.
 
Upon completion of his division officer tours, he earned a MS in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. CDR Jimenez’ first department head tour was in USS MASON (DDG 87) as Engineer Officer 2010 to 2012. His second department head tour was Engineering Assessments Atlantic from 2012 to 2014 as lead Cruiser/ Destroyer (CRUDES) Project Officer.
 
He served at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) N5 staff as the OPLAN development lead from 2014 to 2015 and was then assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVSURFLANT) N43 as DDG Type Desk Officer Director of Material Readiness and Director of Maintenance Plans and Programs from 2015 to 2018. He reported as Executive Officer, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA) in April 2018. CDR Jimenez served as Commanding Officer of USS Vicksburg (CG 69) during Cruiser Modernization – Service Life Extension Program from July 2018 to June 2019. He reported onboard USS DECATUR (DDG 73) as Executive Officer in February 2020, serving a successful tour and returning to serve as Commanding Officer in November 2021.

CDR Jimenez is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in addition to various unit awards.