Prior to SMWDC, Alexander was most recently the Commanding Officer of Surface Warfare Schools Command located onboard Naval Station Newport, R.I.
Alexander is the fifth SMWDC Commander since its 2015 establishment as the Surface Warfare community’s Warfighting Development Center.
“I am truly humbled and honored to assume command of SMWDC. To be able to work with some of the best surface warfare tacticians to build and refine doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) for the Surface Warfare community is an immense and exciting opportunity. SMWDC has been in great hands with the Commanders who have come before me and I am excited to see where we will go in the future,” said Alexander.
SMWDC is designated the Executive Agent for and responsible to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC), for Surface Warfare Combat Training Continuum (SWCTC) planning, development, and implementation, including management of the Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) program, Surface Tactical Training Syllabi (STTS), and the associated Training and Readiness matrix.
“The Surface Force rolled out a six-month SWCTC pilot program aboard two destroyers this year, to test the DDG 51 STTS and tactical action officer grading criteria,” said Alexander. “The data from this pilot will aid in the follow-on implementation of SWCTC which will result in an automated system that tracks qualifications, currency, proficiency and experience throughout a watchstander’s career.”
A great deal of SMWDC’s planning and execution is accomplished by WTIs, the top-talented Surface Warfare officers that applied, selected and trained to become warfighting experts, in one of four surface warfare areas – amphibious warfare, integrated air and missile defense, mine warfare or anti-submarine warfare / surface warfare. WTIs plan and execute Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercises with increasing complexity that continues to challenge surface combatants and their crews to become more proficient and lethal at the individual, watch team, unit and strike group levels. These exercises ultimately foster battle-minded crews and combat ready ship for the high-end fight.
Top-talented junior surface warfare officers interested in becoming WTIs can send an email to SWO_WTI@navy.mil for more information about the WTI program and their graduate education opportunities.