CDR Peter Downes

COMMANDING OFFICER, USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52)

24 April 2024 CDR Peter J “Pete” Downes is the Commanding Officer of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). CDR Downes received a commission through the Navy ROTC program at Tufts University in 2006, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in history.
A qualified Surface Warfare Officer, he served his division officer tours on USS Shreveport (LPD 12) and USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and department head tours on USS Peleliu (LHA 5) as Combat Systems Officer and USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) as Operations Officer.
His shore duty assignments include the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) as an intelligence analyst for Iranian naval tactics, and a requirements officer at OPNAV N96 for surface weapons programs. His most recent assignment was Executive Officer onboard USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52). He received master's degrees from the US Naval War College and the National War College. He lives with his family in San Diego, California.