Thomas Dickinson Takes on NAVSEA Warfare Centers Commander Role

Capt. Thomas Dickinson began serving as the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers following a change of command ceremony on Friday. He replaces Rear Adm. Kevin Byrne, who retired after holding the role for three years.

Dickinson will lead the Naval Surface Warfare Center and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center together with Marty Irvine Jr., who took on the role of executive director in June. The centers perform research, development, testing and evaluation for surface ship and submarine systems and subsystems and supply the technical operations, people, technology and engineering services to support the needs of the Navy forces, the Naval Sea Systems Command said.

Dickinson previously was the principal military deputy and chief operating officer for the NAVSEA director of Surface Ship Maintenance, Modernization and Sustainment. His naval career also included time spent as Navy Regional Maintenance Center commander and as major program manager for Aegis ballistic missile defense weapon systems.

He received a Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership in 2014 and the Rear Admiral “Deak” Parsons Award for program management excellence in 2020.

The new NAVSEA Warfare Centers commander holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.