MILTON — A Milton native has assumed command of Undersea Warfighting Development Center.
Rear Adm. James Pitts, the son of Jim and Verlensia Pitts, graduated from Milton High School in 1982 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Following his first sea tour, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a master’s degree in national security affairs.
At sea, his first submarine assignment was USS Grayling (SSN 646). Additionally, he was temporarily assigned to USS Plunger (SSN 595) for a Western Pacific deployment, where he qualified in submarines.
Follow-on assignments include navigator on USS Hammerhead (SSN 663); combat systems officer on USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709); and executive officer of USS Tucson (SSN 770).
During his tour as commanding officer of USS Tucson (SSN 770) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, he completed two Western Pacific deployments and the ship received the Squadron 7 Battle “E” for 2006.
His shore and staff assignments include: Virginia Requirements Officer for the Submarine Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N87); prospective executive officer instructor at Naval Submarine School; deputy commander for Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 3; Program and Budget Branch chief on the Joint Staff; and as a chief of naval operations fellow, Strategic Studies Group.
Most recently, Pitts was assigned to the OPNAV Staff as the Planning, Programming & Development Branch head and executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations, Warfare Systems (N9).
The Undersea Warfighting Development Center, under the commander’s direction, Submarine Force Atlantic, integrates undersea concept of operations and tactics, techniques and procedures in support of theater-level command and control of anti-submarine warfare forces; prepares submarine crews to conduct assigned advanced missions and all combat missions; and prepares carrier strike groups and independently deploying surface ships to perform integrated ASW, among other tasks.
Pitts’ personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pitts takes Undersea Warfighting Development Center's command