CDR Richard Skinnell

Past Commanding Officer, USS Mobile (LCS 26) Blue

08 July 2022 Cmdr. Richard Skinnell, a native of Virginia, enlisted in the United States Navy in November 1995. He commissioned through the NROTC program at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. He is a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

He deployed as an engineman with USS Stout (DDG 55) in support of Operation Desert Fox. After his commission in 2005, Skinnell served on USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) as the OI and force protection division officer, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as the reactor mechanical division officer, USS Benfold (DDG 65) as the operations officer, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the chemistry and radiological controls assistant and on USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) as the executive officer.
 
Ashore, Skinnell served as an assistant professor of naval science at the University of Virginia, and as the plant executive officer at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, New York. 

Skinnell’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), and various unit and service awards.