CDR Christina Appleman

Executive Officer, USS Mustin (DDG 89)

19 January 2024 A California native, CDR Appleman was commissioned through the University of San Diego NROTC program in 2007. 

At sea, she served onboard PCU SAMPSON (DDG 102) as the Strike Officer and Public Affairs Officer. While onboard SAMPSON, Christina took the newly commissioned USS SAMPSON on her maiden WESTPAC deployment.  Her second sea tour was onboard USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91) as the Damage Control Assistant and MWR officer.  Christina served her Department Head tours onboard USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) as the Weapons and Combat Systems Officer and Senior Watch Officer, completing an independent BMD deployment to the Fifth and Seventh Fleet Areas of Operation. 

Ashore, Christina earned an MBA in Transportation Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. Her MBA project, Defining a Support Strategy for the Navy’s Independently Deployed Littoral Combat Ship: Issues and Implications, explored the maintenance challenges and sustainment support for the LCS while forward-stationed in the Pacific area of operations and was awarded the Surface Navy Association Award for Academic Excellence in Surface Warfare Research.  She also served as a Candidate Guidance Officer in the Office of Admissions at the U.S. Naval Academy and the Fleet Command Center Director at U.S. SIXTH Fleet in Naples, Italy.  Most recently she served as a Detailer in the Surface Warfare Assignments Branch (PERS-41) at the Navy Personnel Command.

Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and various other personal, unit and service awards.