Cmdr. James Hoey, became the first Anti-Submarine Warfare/Surface Warfare (ASW/SUW) Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) to assume command during a change command ceremony for USS Charleston (LCS 18) on December 6, 2019.

Hoey, a native of Santa Rosa, Calif., served as Charleston’s Executive Officer before relieving the Commanding Officer as part of the ‘Fleet up’ model for command at sea.

Hoey became the seventh WTI in history to assume command of a warship, the previous six were Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) WTIs – Lt. Cmdr. Daniel O’Neill aboard USS Shamal (PC 13), Cmdr. Matthew Shellock aboard USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), Cmdr. Matthew Cox aboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57), Cmdr. Leonard Mitchell aboard USS Little Rock (LCS 9), Cmdr. David Taft aboard USS Higgins (DDG 76), and Cmdr. Chad Trubilla aboard USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115).
 

Hoey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree. In 2007, he received a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs in East Asia from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Hoey is also one of the first graduates of the Surface Warfare community’s ASW/SUW WTI course, where he received the award of ‘Top Tactician’.

Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) accepts applications from top-talented junior Surface Warfare Officers (SWOs) and the selected candidates complete rigorous academic training and qualify in one of four Surface warfare specialties – ASW/SUW, IAMD, Amphibious Warfare (AMW), or Mine Warfare (MIW). SMWDC is one of five Navy Warfighting Development Centers (WDCs) and was established in 2015. WTIs are the backbone of SMWDC’s four lines of operations (LOO) - advanced tactical training, doctrine and tactical guidance development, operational support, capability assessments, and experimentation and future requirements.

“I decided to become a WTI because of my desire to train the Fleet to be the best Navy at fighting our ships at sea,” said Hoey. “The best experiences I have had as a WTI were training the Fleet during Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT), Submarine Commander’s Course, and driving tactics development for the LCS Independence class of ship.”
 

At sea, Hoey served as the Main Propulsion Assistant and as First Lieutenant aboard USS Decatur (DDG 73), as Navigator aboard USS San Jacinto (CG 56), Chief Engineer aboard USS Crommelin (FFG 37), and as Combat Systems Officer aboard USS Dewey (DDG 105). Ashore, Hoey served as an associate fellow at the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, as branch chief for interagency operations at United States Africa Command, and as Operations Officer at SMWDC.

SWOs interested in professional growth and development with opportunities to increase the Fleet’s readiness and lethality can email the WTI program managers at SWO_WTI@navy.mil.

SMWDC is a subordinate command of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and exists to increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force across all domains. SMWDC headquarters is at Naval Base San Diego with four divisions in Virginia and California focused on ASW/SUW, MIW, AMW, and IAMD.