New Commander for Navy’s Carderock Division

Captain Charles D. Behrle USN relieved Captain Steven W. Petri USN as 32nd commander of the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division October 28th, 2003. Captain Behrle leaves his NAVSEA post as technical director of the DD(X) Program, a vessel destined to be the Navy's premier multi-mission destroyer for the 21st century. A Connecticut native, Captain Behrle (U.S. Naval Academy '80) earned a B.S. in math. He began his career aboard USS STARK (FFG 31). In 1985, he went to the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California for an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. While there, he was selected for engineering duty. Personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with two gold stars), the Navy Commendation Medal (with three gold stars), and the Navy Achievement Medal. Captain Petri (U.S. Naval Academy '70) commanded the division for three years, overseeing many accomplishments by the employees across the nation. He states that he is proud of their record of success, noting that Carderock Division's reputation with its customers is at an all-time high. "Our people have been able to handle the tough things like claimancy consolidation and warfare center realignment, even under the extraordinary stress of "9/11". Captain Petri received the Legion of Merit. He returns to the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.