CDR Molly Lawton

EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AFLOAT TRAINING GROUP PACIFIC NORTHWEST (ATGPNW)

22 March 2022 Commander Lawton is a native of and was raised in Omaha, Nebraska and commissioned from the NROTC Program at the University of Illinois in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. 
 
At sea, CDR Lawton served in USS PRINCETON (CG-59) as CIC Officer and Admin Officer.  Subsequent sea tours included assignments in USS STOCKDALE (DDG-106) as the Fire Control Officer and USS DECATUR (DDG-73) where she served as Weapons Officer, Combat Systems Officer, Senior Watch Officer, and Executive Officer. From October 2020 to February 2022 she served as Commanding Officer onboard the USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG 71).
 
Ashore, CDR Lawton served in the Current Operations directorate at CNE-CNA-C6F in Naples, Italy, acting as an action officer in the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection and the Air Operations offices. She earned her Anti-Submarine/Anti-Surface Warfare Tactics Instructor patch and served at Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Sea Combat Division as a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training Planner. She is currently serving as the Executive Officer of the Afloat Training Group, Pacific Northwest.

Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service and campaign awards.