Capt. Paul D. O’Brien

Executive Officer, USS Wasp (LHD 1)

09 January 2024

Capt. Paul O’Brien is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia.  He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology where he was commissioned through the NROTC program.

Sea Duty Assignments include:  First Lieutenant in USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD 968), Fire Control Officer in USS PRINCETON (CG 59), Weapons and Combat Systems Officer in USS ANTIETAM (CG 54), and Executive Officer and Commanding Officer in USS RAMAGE (DDG 61).

Shore Duty Assignments include:  Instructor duty at the Center for Surface Combat Systems, Detachment Point Loma; Requirements Officer for Surface AAW Weapons and Radars in OPNAV N96; and the Joint Staff J-5 where he served as an Action Officer in the Joint Operational War Plans Division (JOWPD), and as Executive Assistant for the Deputy Director for Joint Strategic Planning and Prospective Commanding Officer Course Director at the Surface Warfare School in Newport, RI.  He also attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and earned a Master’s Degree from Webster University in Business and Organizational Security Management. He later served as the Chief of Staff, Board of Inspection and Survey.

In September 2023, Capt. O’Brien assumed the role as Executive Officer aboard USS WASP (LHD 1).