CAPT T.J. Zerr

Past Chief of Staff, Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet

01 May 2023 Captain Zerr, a native of Denver, CO, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Honors Economics and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business majoring in Finance, Organizational Management, and Human Relations.
 
At-sea, his assignments include division officer tours aboard USS Princeton (CG 59) as the Gunnery and Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer; USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) as the Reactor Mechanical Division Officer and Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant; USS Decatur (DDG 73) as Operations Officer; USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the Reactor Electrical Assistant; USS Kidd (DDG 100) as Executive Officer; USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as Reactor Officer; and Deputy Commander of Destroyer Squadron 21.  

Ashore he served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy of Naval Reactors at the Washington Navy Yard; Director of Defense Policy and Strategy on the National Security Council at the White House; Branch Head for Policy, Doctrine and Advanced Concepts (N5) at Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Headquarters; Commander’s Action Group Director for Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Deputy Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center.

Zerr commanded USS Kidd (DDG 100) and Destroyer Squadron 21. During his time in command, USS Kidd independently deployed to the Asia-Pacific and earned the Battle Efficiency Award. Zerr assumed the role of Chief of Staff, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet in April 2023.