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Rear Adm. Munsch, a native of North Dakota, graduated with "most distinction" from the Naval Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. At Annapolis, he was brigade commander of his class, and an All-American and national champion pistol shooter. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship, he attended Oxford University and earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
After submarine officer pipeline training, Munsch was assigned to four consecutive sea duty assignments. He served as a division officer in USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659), followed by navigator/operations officer in USS Jefferson City (SSN 759). He then became submarine operations officer for Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Five before being assigned to USS Tucson (SSN 770) as executive officer.
In 1999, Munsch reported ashore and was assigned to U.S. Pacific Command, where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) prior to becoming deputy executive assistant to the Commander. In 2000, he was 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, completing a refueling overhaul and two overseas deployments. He then served in the Pentagon as the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and, then, as executive assistant to the Director, Submarine Warfare (OPNAV N87).
From 2008 to 2010, Munsch commanded Submarine Development Squadron Five, including Seawolf-class submarines and the Submarine Force’s submarine rescue capability, unmanned undersea vehicles, and ocean engineering R&D program. He then returned to the Pentagon to head the Navy Strategy branch (OPNAV N513), and lead the Navy team in development of the Air-Sea Battle Concept.
Munsch is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI fellow, recipient of the U.S. Navy League's Decatur Award for operational excellence, and an honorary chief petty officer. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), and several unit awards shared with shipmates
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