CDR Thealos C. Ballas

COMMANDING OFFICER, AFLOAT TRAINING GROUP PACIFIC NORTHWEST (ATGPNW)

22 August 2024 CDR Thealos Ballas is a native of Boca Raton, Fla. He enlisted in the Navy in 1994 as an Electronics Technician, selected as a Chief Petty Officer in 2002, and was commissioned in 2003 as a Surface Electronics Limited Duty Officer, subsequently converting to the Surface Warfare Officer community in 2009. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Management in 2012 and graduated from the Naval War College as a Halsey Alfa Fellow in 2016 with a Master of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs.

He served at sea as a RADAR and communications technician on USS Halyburton (FFG 40) and as a data link technician and pre-commissioning crew member of USS Bulkeley (DDG 84). Following his commissioning, he was assigned to USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93) as the pre-commissioning System Test Officer and Electronic Materials Officer; USS Hue City (CG 66) as the Electronic Materials Officer; and USS Dewey (DDG 105) as the Engineer Officer and Combat Systems Officer.

Ashore tours include the Afloat Training Group, Mayport, where he deployed to Iraq on an individual augmentee assignment as a Battle Major in the Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) Headquarters Strategic Operations Center. Additional shore assignments include Afloat Training Group, San Diego; Combat Systems Officer, Surface and Mine Warfare Development Center Headquarters and Officer in Charge at the Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility, San Diego. He most recently served as the Executive Officer of USS Gabbrielle Giffords’ (LCS 10) Gold crew.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign and unit awards.