CDR Erik D. Gardner

Executive Officer, USS DANIEL INOUYE (DDG 118)

12 December 2024

Commander Erik Gardner is a native of Birmingham, AL and was commissioned from Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI in July 2008.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from Virginia College, a master’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University, and a master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.

Following his initial training at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI, CDR Gardner was assigned to USS BOONE (FFG 28), completing multiple deployments to the 4th, 5th and 6th fleet AORs in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and Operations OCEAN SHIELD, CAPER FOCUS, and ACTIVE ENDEAVOR.  For his Department Head tours, CDR Gardner served as Operations Officer onboard USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80), completing a 5th fleet deployment in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and IRAQI FREEDOM.  Additionally, he served as Operations Officer onboard USS INDIANAPOLIS (LCS 17) throughout her commissioning, sail around, and initial Combat Systems testing.

Ashore, CDR Gardner served as Assistant Professor of Naval Science at NROTC unit Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA.  During his post-Department Head tour, he served as Staff Director at Destroyer Squadron Three One in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

His decorations include various personal, unit, campaign, and service awards.