CDR Fred D. Crayton

CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, Commander Amphibious Squadron 11 (COMPHIBRON 11)

10 October 2025

CDR Crayton is native of Ellington, Connecticut. He commissioned through the legacy Seaman to Admiral Program in 2004, earning a BA in English Liberal Arts from Norfolk State University.

His naval service began in 1994 as an enlisted Operations Specialist, completing tours on the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), and USS Essex (LHD 2) home ported in Sasebo, Japan. Upon commissioning, he was assigned to the USS Mahan (DDG 72) in Norfolk, Virginia where he completed a single long tour as Strike, Auxiliaries, and Legal Officer.

After a rewarding tour at sea, he worked as a Training Liaison Officer at Afloat Training Group, Norfolk, VA. While there, he was selected for an Individual Augment to Iraq for over a year. Down range, he served as the Chief of Operations and Deputy J3 for a Joint Special Operations Task Force. In May 2011, he completed his Master’s in Public Administration from Old Dominion University. Upon earning his Masters, he reported to USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) as the Engineer Officer.

After leading Engineering Department with exceptional results, he was hand-picked to be an Engineering Assessor at Engineering Assessments Atlantic (EAA), Norfolk, VA where he served as Senior Assessor and Project Officer for diesel and gas turbine platforms. Following EAA, he screened for a one-year Global War on Terrorism Assignment (GSA); there he served as an Officer in Charge (OIC) of a Joint Task Force support vessel which conducted Special Operations Force and Maritime Security Operations. Remaining operational, he served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer onboard USS Chief (MCM 14) forward deployed in Sasebo, Japan. While commanding CHIEF, the crew earned the Battle Excellence Award, selected as the best all-round MCM in the Pacific Fleet. After commanding CHIEF, he served as the XO of the Guided Missile Destroyer, USS McFAUL (DDG-74) in Norfolk, Virginia and then was assigned to the newly established Navy Safety Command, Assessments Directorate (Code 60) in Norfolk, Virginia. Subsequently, he would return to Sasebo, Japan and served as Commanding Officer of Naval Beach Unit SEVEN (NBU-7) where he led the Vanguard Team to its first Battle Excellence Award.

CDR Crayton’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (seven awards), Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit and campaign awards.