CDR Christopher Gans

EXECUTIVE OFFICER, USS KIDD (DDG 100)

10 July 2024 Commander Gans is a native of Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Iowa in 2005 and a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs and Foreign Policy from Naval Postgraduate School in 2013. 

He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in February 2008 and was designated a Surface Warfare Officer. CDR Gans’ operational assignments include Division Officer tours onboard USS PREBLE (DDG 88) where he served as an Electrical Officer and Main Propulsion Division Officer. 

He subsequently served as Damage Control Assistant onboard USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG 71). He completed Department Head tours as the Chief Engineer onboard USS THOMAS HUDNER (DDG 116) commissioning her into active service, and then USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53). 

His post-department Head tour placed him as the Maintenance and Material Officer (N4) at COMPHIBRON ONE, overseeing material and logistics readiness for eleven amphibious class ships through deployment, sustainment, and maintenance phases. CDR Gans completed five operational deployments during his various sea tours. 

Ashore, CDR Gans attended Naval Postgraduate School from 2012 to 2013, followed by an instructor tour at Officer Training Command Newport where he performed as an Officer Candidate School Class Officer and Instructor until commencing Department Head training pipeline in 2015. 

During his various sea and shore tours, CDR Gans has been awarded four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Meritorious Service Medal, and various other unit awards and citations.