Rear Adm. Mark A. Melson is a native of Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1992 and was awarded the Utah Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Distinguished Naval Graduate upon commissioning. He earned a Master’s degree from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in 2014, with a focus on the aircraft industry.  He is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow.

Melson was designated a naval flight officer in 1994 and has served in operational tours worldwide.  Sea tours include Patrol Squadron-26 (VP) 26, USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) as assistant navigator, and VP-9. He commanded VP-16 and USS Makin Island (LHD 8), during which time the ship was awarded the Battle “E” and the Admiral Flatley award for Operational and Safety Excellence in Aviation Operations.

Ashore, Melson has served as: flag lieutenant/flag aide to Commander, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces (CTF-67), U.S. 6th Fleet; P-3 Aviation assignments officer for shore and sea detailing at Navy Personnel Command; naval aide to the Vice President of the United States, serving in the White House; deputy director, Navy Senate Liaison; senior military assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Mons, Belgium; and executive assistant to Deputy Chief of Navy Operations (OPNAV N3N5).

In his first flag assignment he served as deputy director for Joint Force Integration (DD JFI), Joint Staff (J7), which also included acting as chairman of the Force Integration Functional Capabilities Board (FCB), supporting the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC).

Melson assumed duties as commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific / Task Force SEVEN-THREE in Singapore in June 2022.

Awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and other various service and joint unit awards.

Last Updated: 1 August 2022