CDR Douglas A. Brayton

Past Commanding Officer, USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123)

11 May 2023 Commander Brayton graduated from the United States Naval Academy earning a bachelor’s of science degree in economics and was commissioned in May, 2004. Upon commissioning he was assigned into the surface warfare community.

Sea duty tours include initial assignment to USS MONTEREY (CG 61) where he served as Electrical Officer from 2004-2006. This was followed by assignment as Assistant Officer in Charge Inshore Boat Unit 52 from 2006-2009. As a department head, he served as Engineer Officer, USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79), from 2012-2014 and Operations Officer, USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19), from 2014-2016. He was the Executive Officer of USS SOMERSET (LPD 25) from 2018-2020.

Ashore, he taught Seamanship and Navigation at the Naval Academy from 2009-2011, where he earned two Masters degrees: A Masters in National Security from the Naval War College and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He also served as N7 at the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Amphibious Warfare Division from 2016-2018.