CDR Stephen D. Szachta Jr.

Commanding Officer, USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115)

04 December 2023 Commander Stephen Szachta, a native of St. Charles, MO, graduated from the Naval Academy in 2006 earning a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering.

He completed his initial Division Officer tour aboard USS FORREST SHERMAN (DDG 98) as Ordnance Officer, participating in her maiden deployment to the C6F AOR, as well as deploying to the C4F AOR in support of Counter Narcotics. He completed his second Division Officer tour in USS ELROD (FFG 55) as the Damage Control Assistant, deploying to the CENTCOM AOR in support of Counter Piracy. His Department Head tours included Chief Engineer in USS PREBLE (DDG 88) where he deployed to the C7F AOR and Chief Engineer in USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG 71), where he was a key leader in placing the ship in the CG Modernization/Surface Life Extension Program.

After his Department Tours, he had the privilege of commanding USS MONSOON (PC 4) homeported in the Kingdom of Bahrain. During his two-year command tour MONSOON was highly operational performing critical missions in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. His crew won the Battle “E” for 2018. He most recently served as Executive Officer in USS RAFAEL PERALTA (DDG 115).

Ashore he completed a two-year curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School, graduating with distinction and earning a Master of Science in Systems Engineering as well as completing JPME Phase I. Additionally he served as a Leadership and Navigation/Seamanship instructor at the Naval Academy.