# Dee Mewbourne

Dee Leon Mewbourne (born December 9, 1961) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who served as 16th deputy commander of United States Transportation Command between July 2, 2019 and June 29, 2022.

## Naval career

Mewbourne graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982 and was designated a naval flight officer in December 1983. He later earned a master's degree in business administration from Colorado State University. He is an honor graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and completed the navy's Nuclear Power Program, Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), Joint Forces Staff College, and numerous executive education courses.
Mewbourne's command assignments include: Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Nashville (LPD-13), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, CSG-11, and Military Sealift Command. Mewbourne holds the rare distinction of serving as commanding officer of three nuclear aircraft carriers. After serving a standard tour in command of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, he took command of the USS Enterprise in early 2011 after the previous CO of Enterprise was relieved for poor performance. In late 2011, Captain Mewbourne was called in to take command of the USS Harry S. Truman after the previous CO, Captain Tushar Tembe, died suddenly.
At sea, Mewbourne completed sea assignments flying the A-6E Intruder aircraft in Attack Squadron (VA) 34 embarked aboard USS America (CV-66); VA-75 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67); Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 aboard Eisenhower; and as the executive officer of VA-196 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). After transitioning to the EA-6B Prowler aircraft, he served as the executive officer of VAQ-139 aboard Abraham Lincoln. He also served as the executive officer on USS George Washington (CVN-73).
Ashore, Mewbourne served as a flight instructor with VA-42, the East Coast A-6E Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), and project officer at the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Later, he served as military assistant and trip coordinator for the secretary and deputy secretary of defense; chief of staff for Navy Cyber Forces; on the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic; and director, Maritime Operations for United States Fleet Forces Command.
Mewbourne retired from the U.S. Navy on June 30, 2022 at Scott Air Force Base. His comments about his time in the Navy and as deputy commander of USTRANSCOM are posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Xk04UpNAs. The live broadcast of his retirement ceremony is here at USTRANSCOM (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XxPLk0iX1c.

## Awards and decorations

Naval Flight Officer :
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit with one silver and one gold award stars |
| Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars | Air Medal with Combat V, one bronze service star and bronze Strike/Flight numerals 2 | Joint Service Commendation Medal |
| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
| Navy Unit Commendation | Coast Guard Unit Commendation with "O" device | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation |
| Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E devices | Navy Expeditionary Medal | National Defense Service Medal with service star |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal |
| Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and four bronze service stars | Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia |
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon | Navy Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon |
| Command at Sea insignia |||
| United States Transportation Command Badge |||
* He received the Carl Vinson Leadership Award at the Naval Academy.
* Upon completing initial flight training in the A-6E Intruder at VA-42 in 1985, he was selected as the Replacement Bombardier/Navigator of the Year.
* In 1987, he was selected as the East Coast A-6 community’s Junior Intruder of the Year.
* In August 2012, he was awarded the Truman Foundation Leadership Award for inspirational leadership.