CDR Dale R. Tourtelotte

Past Commanding Officer, USS Shoup (DDG 86)

27 December 2022 A native of Orange, Texas, Cmdr. Dale R. Tourtelotte graduated from Texas A&M University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

Afloat, Tourtelotte completed his division officer tours aboard the destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) as the electrical officer and as the navigator. During his tour, he completed Forrest Sherman’s maiden deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and circumnavigating Africa in support of the U.S. 6th Fleet Commander’s Theater Security Cooperation. He completed his department head tours aboard the destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) as the chief engineer and the chief engineer of Littoral Combat Ship Crew 202, serving on USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10). In June 2020, he completed 24 months in command of USS Hurricane (PC 3), homeported in Manama, Bahrain. While in command, he completed over 30 patrols throughout the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, conducting operations in support of Combined Task Forces 52, 55 and 152, including multi-lateral exercises with every collation partner in the region.

His most recent assignment was as Executive Officer on USS Shoup, homeported in San Diego, CA. He took command in November 2022, prior to executing a homeport shift to Yokosuka, Japan in December 2022.

Ashore, Tourtelotte was a student at the Naval Postgraduate School earning a Master of Science degree in Modeling Virtual Environments and Simulation as well as completing the Naval War College Non-resident Program for Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. Additionally, he completed a tour as a Naval Science Instructor and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University.

Commander Tourtelotte’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Stars) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Gold Star) as well as multiple unit and service awards.