Vice Adm. Stuart B. Munsch
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5), U.S. Navy
Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch is a native of North Dakota and a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. At Annapolis, Maryland he was brigade commander of his class and an all-American and national champion pistol shooter. He was selected for a Rhodes Scholarship and is a graduate of Oxford University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
He was assigned four consecutive sea duty assignments, serving onboard USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659), USS Jefferson City (SSN 759), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) on the staff of Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5, and USS Tucson (SSN 770). In 1999, Munsch reported ashore to U.S. Pacific Command, where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) prior to becoming deputy executive assistant to the commander. He was then selected for a White House Fellowship and served as special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Munsch commanded USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) from 2002 to 2005, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and then as executive assistant to the Director, Submarine Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N87).
Munsch commanded Submarine Development Squadron 5 (DEVRON-5) from 2008 to 2010 and then returned to the Pentagon to head the Navy Strategy branch (OPNAV N513). When he was selected for flag officer rank, he was reassigned as deputy director, Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97).
While assigned overseas in Japan and Bahrain, he commanded Submarine Group 7 and Task Forces 74 and 54 from 2013 to 2015, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. In 2017 Munsch reported to OPNAV N3/N5 as the assistant and in 2018 became the deputy chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy.
Munsch is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI fellow and recipient of the U.S. Navy League’s Decatur Award for operational excellence. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), and several unit awards shared with shipmates.