CDR Bralyn E. Cathey, USN 

Commander Bralyn E. Cathey is from Memphis, Tennessee. A surface warfare officer, he is a graduate of Morehouse College and was commissioned an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He holds master’s degrees in Leadership from the University of Maryland at College Park, and National Security Strategy from the Naval War College.

At sea, Cathey served as OI division officer and fire control officer on USS Cole (DDG 67). As a department head, he served as operations officer aboard both USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and USS Princeton (CG 59). He has deployed to the Mediterranean participating in Operation Active Endeavor and twice to the Indo-Pacific and Arabian Gulf regions participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ashore, his assignments include serving as 27th Company Officer at the United States Naval Academy; flag aide to Commander, Navy Personnel Command; Defense Legislative Fellow to Senator Angus S.  King, Jr.; duty in the strategy and policy division on the Chief of Naval Operations staff; strategy and policy legislative liaison in the Navy Office Legislative Affairs; and as a detailer in the Surface Officer Career Management division (PERS 41) at Navy Personnel Command.

Cathey is a recipient of various personal and campaign awards including the Navy Commendation Medal (6 awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards). He also served on teams that have been awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy “E” Ribbon.