Commander Dan Straub grew up in Womelsdorf, PA, graduated from Conrad Weiser High School, and joined the Navy in 1983. CDR Straub earned his Bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, a Master’s degree from Boston University, and a PhD from Naval Postgraduate School.
After boot camp and follow-on advanced electronics training, he reported to his first ship, the USS MANITOWOC (LST-1180) home-ported in Little Creek, VA. As a Fire Control Technician, he operated and maintained the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1991.
After commissioning as an Ensign at Penn State in 1996, Commander Straub’s first assignment as an officer was as First Lieutenant in charge of Deck Department on USS FORD (FFG 54), home-ported in Everett, WA. Following FORD, he was transferred to USS ARCTIC (AOE 8), home-ported in Earle, NJ, where he served his second division officer tour as Damage Control Assistant.
After his first two division officer tours, he was transferred to Boston University as an NROTC Assistant Professor, teaching basic and advanced navigation. While at BU, he earned his Master’s degree in International Relations. Following his tour at BU NROTC, he was assigned to USS SHOUP (DDG 86), home-ported in Everett, WA, as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer.
Following his Department Head tours, he served as Executive Officer, Afloat Training Group, Pacific Northwest, charged with operational and combat training for seven U.S. Navy ships and 15 U. S. Coast Guard Cutters. After his position as XO ATGPNW, he attended Naval Postgraduate School as a Doctoral Candidate and earned his PhD in National Security Affairs, Security Studies.
Commander Straub’s most recent assignment was as Commanding Officer in USS INGRAHAM (FFG 61). While in command he executed a Combating-Transnational Organized Crime deployment in support of Operation Martillo, UNITAS, SIFOREX, & Fourth Fleet Theater Security Cooperation activities. Commander Straub is currently assigned as Commanding Officer of LCS Crew 208 “Paladins,” who will commission and assume command of the Navy’s newest warship, USS MONTGOMERY (LCS 8), in Mobile, Alabama.
Commander Straub has deployed to the Atlantic, Pacific, & Indian oceans, the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, South China Sea, and Arabian Gulf, among other places. Commander Straub’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (7 Awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards), and various command and campaign awards. CDR Straub is married to Janet Hayes of Tabernacle, NJ, and they have two sons, Mark (23) & Sam (19)