CDR Jayson C. Larsen

Past Commanding Officer, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)

17 April 2023

CDR Jayson Larsen is a native of Las Vegas, and enlisted in the Navy in February of 1996. He attended Basic Training and Fire Controlman (FC) “A” school in Great Lakes, IL followed by Tomahawk and Harpoon “C” school. After achieving the rank of 1st Class Petty Officer, he was selected to the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program in 2000. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Oregon State University and was commissioned in June 2005.

CDR Larsen’s afloat assignments include USS STETHEM (DDG 63) where he deployed three times to 5th and 7th Fleet. First Lieutenant and Communications Officer aboard USS CHOSIN (CG 65) making two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Combined Task Force (CTF) 150/151 operations in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. His department head tours were on USS STERETT (DDG 104) as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer, completing a 10-month deployment with Vinson Strike Group. He served as Executive Officer aboard the Battle Efficiency award winning USS JOHN P MURTHA (LPD 26).

Ashore, CDR Larsen’s earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Following NPS, he reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as Instructor of Seamanship and Navigation where he was recognized with the USNA Colleen S. Smiley-Owendoff Teaching Excellence award. Following his department head tours, he reported to Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Lead. He then attended the Anti-Submarine Warfare/Surface Warfare (ASW/SUW) Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) course and reported to Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Sea Combat Division (SCD).

CDR Larsen assumed command of USS FITZGERALD (DDG 62) in April 2023 after serving as the WTI Program Manager at Surface Advanced Warfighting School.

His designations and awards include: ASW/SUW WTI, Craftmaster, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (6 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (4 awards), Good Conduct Medal (3 awards), and various unit and service awards.