CDR James N. Watts

Past Commanding Officer, USS Stethem (DDG 63)

14 June 2023 CDR James “Nate” Watts is a native of Lawrenceville, Georgia. He attended The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was commissioned in 2005. He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a Masters of Arts in National Security Affairs specializing in Middle East studies.

Watts’ first sea duty assignment was in 2005 on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he deployed to 5th and 6th Fleets in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations in Lebanon. In 2007, he reported as Weapons Officer of Patrol Coastal Crew Juliet in Little Creek, Virginia, completing two deployments to 5th Fleet in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2013, he served as Operations Officer onboard USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, completing an independent BMD deployment to 5th Fleet, followed by a second tour as Operations Officer on USS Antietam (CG 54), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. Most recently, CDR Watts completed a tour as Executive Officer in USS STETHEM (DDG 63).

His shore and staff tours include Junior Officer Detailer at Surface Officer Distribution Division (PERS-41) in Millington, Tennessee and also served as a Congressional Liaison for the Navy to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C). Most recently he was assigned as a Defense Resource Manager in the Joint Staff (J8) Directorate (Program and Budget Analysis Division).

His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal (5), Navy Achievement Medal, and various service medals and awards.