On Thursday, July 25, 2019 longtime National Naval Officer Association (NNOA) member and DCNNOA member Navy Commander Walter C. Mainor, Jr. was promoted to Captain. The ceremony was held in the Joint Staff Flag Room, Pentagon, Washington, DC. The promotion official for the ceremony was Admiral John M. Richardson, USN Chief of Naval Operations. Notable NNOA members in attendance included: RADM (Ret) Earl Gay, USN, RADM Fernandez (Frank ) L. Ponds, USN and RADM (Select) Stephen D. Barnett, USN.

Captain Mainor is currently serving on the Joint Staff Strategy and Policy Directorate J-5. Captain Mainor, is a native of Alabama. He enlisted in the Navy in June of 1987 and served as a Sonar Technician Submarines in USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (SSBN 657B). He attended the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program and graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance. He also received a Master of Business Administration Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Joint & Combined Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC).

Captain Mainor’s afloat tours have included USS OLDENDORF (DD 972), USS DONALD COOK (DDG 75), USS VELLA GULF (CG 72), MCM CREW CONSTANT and USS PATRIOT (MCM 7). Captain Mainor’s most recent afloat tour was Commanding Officer in USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE (DDG 110). Ashore, he served as a manpower specialist / detailer, Navy Personnel Command, PERS 41, Executive Assistant to the Navy Chief of Legislative Affairs, and as Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various service and campaign awards.

Captain Mainor was joined in the ceremony by his wife and children, mother, brother and other family members and friends. Following the ceremony a small reception was held and a good time was had by all! A hearty well done and congratulations is forwarded to Captain Mainor and his family from all his friends and colleagues within the NNOA family – Bravo Zulu!

Attached are a few photographs from Captain Mainor’s promotion ceremony for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

VR,

Jerome
CAPT (Ret) Jerome D. Davis, SC, USN
Secretary
Washington, DC Chapter of the National Naval Officers Association

Saturday, July 27, 2019, the United States Navy commissioned the USS Paul Ignatius (DDG117) in Port Everglades, Florida. 

Commander Robby Trotter is the 2nd officer to come from a historically black college or university (HBCU) to serve as the Commissioning Commanding Officer for the USS Paul Ignatius, the world’s most advanced destroyer.