Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe is a Kansas native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University, and was commissioned in September 1996 at Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida. He holds a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College where he is an alumnus of the Gravely Group advanced research program.

A career submariner, his operational assignments include USS ALASKA (SSBN 732), USS MEMPHIS (SSN 691) and USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719) before commanding USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757). During these tours, he completed multiple overseas deployments and strategic deterrent patrols in support of U.S., Joint, and Coalition submarine operations in the Indo-Pacific, European, Central, and Africa Commands.

As Commodore of COMSUBRON 15, he commanded the Navy’s only forward deployed submarine squadron before serving as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

His staff assignments include instructor duty at Nuclear Power Training Unit – Ballston Spa; Squadron Engineer and Materials Officer on the staff of Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 12; Deputy Commodore on the staff of Commander, Submarine Squadron 12; and he also served on the Office of Secretary of Defense staff as the Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.