Rear Adm. Ver Hage is a native of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Navy in 1984 and served as an electronics technician until his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2008. He is also a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program.

Ver Hage is a designated surface acquisition professional who has served in a variety of afloat and ashore assignments. His tours at sea include duty aboard four ships and three afloat staffs. Ship assignments include commanding officer of USS Carr (FFG 52); executive officer of USS San Jacinto (CG 56); commissioning operations officer of USS Higgins (DDG 76) and as strike officer and damage control assistant aboard the former USS Chancellorsville now USS Robert Smalls (CG 62). Afloat staff assignments include flag aide to Commander Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic; exercise/regional engagement officer in Manama, Bahrain-based Destroyer Squadron Five Zero and as officer in charge of Tomahawk Afloat Planning System Pacific Team One embarked aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) with commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three.

Ver Hage’s acquisition and shore assignments include duty as commanding officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Division, commanding officer of NSWC Port Hueneme Division, U.S. National Point of Contact (NPOC) and Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems project manager for U.S. participation in the Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum and as major program manager for Aegis Ashore with the Missile Defense Agency. Ver Hage also served as an associate fellow with the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Strategic Studies Group XXVI and twice on the OPNAV Surface Warfare Directorate staff to include as a DDG-1000 action officer and later as weapons and sensors branch head.

As a flag officer, Ver Hage commanded the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Undersea Warfare Centers where he led more than 27,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel, both civilian and active duty, at eight surface warfare divisions and two undersea warfare divisions. More recently, Ver Hage served as commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)’s director for Surface Ship Maintenance, Modernization and Sustainment where he led approximately 10,000 Sailors and civilians as they supported ship repair, maintenance and modernization around the globe. Ver Hage assumed the position of special assistant to the commander, NAVSEA in September 2023.

Rear Adm. Ver Hage’s awards include Navy Battle Efficiency and Meritorious Unit awards, the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit and Meritorious Team Commendations, and multiple personal awards to include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, and the Army Engineer Association’s Bronze Order of the De Fleury medal.

Last Updated: 19 March 2024