Community and Chamber Welcome New Commander at NSWC Corona

The community recently welcomed Capt. (sel) Stephen Murray as he assumed command of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division at a ceremony featuring Rear Adm. Lawrence Creevy, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division recently announced a new Commanding Officer, Captain Stephen H. Murray. Captain Murray will replace Captain Eric H. Ver Hage who has led NSWC Corona since November 2011. The Chamber welcomes and congratulates Captain Murray on his new position with the Naval facility.

NSWC Corona is the Navy’s only independent assessment agent, and is responsible for gauging the warfighting capability of Navy ships and aircraft. It also provides critical warfighter support to the Navy and Marine Corps as the range systems and engineering agent, and helps sustain aircrew training around the world.

This local military installment is a high-tech center for science and engineering and a strong economic driver in our region. It has a $300 million economic impact to the regional economy, employs 1,500 local civilians, and hosts more than 7,000 visitors every year.

Captain (sel) Murray joins NSWC Corona as the Deputy Major Program Manager for the Ship Self Defense System in Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

Murray enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1991.  He has completed numerous afloat and ashore tours, including 14 years at sea with Middle East deployments and a command tour with Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron SIX, where he deployed to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and to the United Arab Emirates.

Other ashore tours include Country Program Director at the Navy International Programs Office and as a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution where he researched the trends in replacing the labor force in the United States shipbuilding industry.

He recently completed an assignment as a Branch Head on the staff of the Director for Surface Warfare (OPNAV N96) where he sponsored the Ship Self Defense System, Navigation, and Air Warfare Enterprise Test and Evaluation programs.

Many distinguished visitors, military members and prominent community leaders as well as local and state legislative officials were in attendance to welcome Captain Murray at the Change of Command ceremony on August 1. The Chamber looks forward to building a strong relationship with Captain Murray and thanks Captain Ver Hage for his unwavering efforts to keep NSWC Corona a forerunner in the high-tech industry.