CDR Rich Ray

Commanding Officer, USS O'Kane (DDG 77)

30 October 2023 Commander Rich Ray native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and then later grew up in Thomasville, Georgia. A Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal citizen, he attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina on a Navy ROTC scholarship graduated with a degree in English Literature in 2006. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies (Far East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific) from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Naval War College’s Joint Professional Military Education.

At sea, Commander Ray has served as First Lieutenant and Boarding Officer in USS VELLA GULF (CG 72); Operations Officer in USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG 56); and Operations Officer / N3 for Commander, Destroyer Squadron 15 forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Ashore, Commander Ray Chief Staff Officer and Operations Officer at Mine Countermeasures Division 11 in Sasebo, Japan as well as Flag Lieutenant to Amphibious Force SEVENTHFLT / Expeditionary Strike Group 7 based in Okinawa, Japan. Additionally, Commander Ray served as an Anti-Submarine / Anti-Surface Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) at the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center before assuming the Officer in Charge position at the Basic Division Officer Course in San Diego, California.

In October 2023, he assumed command of USS O’KANE (DDG 77) following a tour as the ship’s Executive Officer.