CAPT Kevin Ralston

Chief of Staff, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG 3)

20 March 2023 CAPT Kevin Ralston is a native of Gardiner, Montana. He is a 1995 graduate of the University of Montana and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1997.

CAPT Ralston’s operational assignments include division officer tours as Electrical Officer and Auxiliaries Officer in USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) and as Officer-in-Charge of an 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat detachment at Special Boat Team TWELVE (SBT 12). He served consecutive department head tours as Operations Officer in USS SHOUP (DDG 86) and Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-ONE (CDS 21). CAPT Ralston served as executive officer in U.S. SEVENTH FLEET’s command ship, USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19). He commanded USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48), USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) and most recently USS SAN DIEGO (LPD 22).

Ashore, CAPT Ralston attended Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Business Administration; filled a Global War on Terrorism support assignment at U.S. European Command; served as an action officer and deputy branch chief in the Global Operations Directorate, U. S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base; served as an action officer in OPNAV N51; was the surface placement branch head in PERS-41 at Navy Personnel Command; and as Deputy Director of Current Operations at Commander, Naval Forces Europe/Africa and Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet.

His personal decorations include various personal, unit, campaign, and service awards.