CAPT Andrew Bucher

Commanding Officer, USS Jack H. Lucas

01 May 2024  Captain Andrew Bucher was raised in Elizabeth City, NC. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering. In 2006, he earned a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Systems Engineering.

His operational tours include First Lieutenant on USS NICHOLAS (FFG 47), Fire Control Officer on USS O’KANE (DDG 77), and Operations Officer on USS STOUT (DDG 55). Additionally, he completed tours as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of MCM CREW SWERVE and USS HOWARD (DDG 83).

Ashore, he served as the Tactical Certifications Officer at Commander, Naval Surface Forces; the Fleet Scheduler at Commander, United States THIRD Fleet; the Maintenance, Operations and Ship Support Branch Head on the OPNAV N96 staff; and a Military Advisor to the United States Department of State.

CAPT Bucher earned the RADM Wayne E. Meyer award for excellence in Systems Engineering, the Northrop Grumman Award for outstanding achievement in project management, and was an honor graduate in Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. He was awarded the Arleigh Burke Prize and Bulkeley Award for outstanding leadership and excellence in surface warfare. CAPT Bucher is a Distinguished Pistol Shot and his personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (5 awards), and various unit, campaign, and service medals. Upon reporting to JACK H. LUCAS, CAPT Bucher will have served on every variant of ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyers.