David Kern, an officer of the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

, was the first commanding officer of USS Virginia (SSN-774)

USS Virginia (SSN-774)

USS Virginia is a United States Navy attack submarine, the lead boat of her class and the tenth vessel of the Navy to be named for the Commonwealth of Virginia....

.

Kern earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...

 and was commissioned in May 1981. Upon completion of nuclear power training and Naval Submarine School, he reported to
USS Honolulu (SSN-718)

USS Honolulu (SSN-718)

USS Honolulu , was a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Honolulu, Hawaii. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 15 September 1977 and her keel was laid down on 10...

,
homeported in Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

. He supported deployed ships in the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...

 and served as Chemistry and Radiological Assistant and Communicator until the ship was delivered to the Pacific Fleet in 1986. Captain Kern then reported to the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California

Monterey, California

The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...

, and earned a Master’s degree in national security affairs.

Captain Kern served as Combat Systems Officer on
USS Newport News (SSN-750)

USS Newport News (SSN-750)

USS Newport News , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Newport News, Virginia.-Construction:The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 19 April 1982 and her keel was laid down on 3 March 1984. ...

and in 1990 received the Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Excellence from the United States Naval League. In 1990, he reported aboard
USS Cincinnati (SSN-693)

USS Cincinnati (SSN-693)

USS Cincinnati , a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Cincinnati, Ohio. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 4 February 1971 and her keel was laid down on 6 April...

as Engineer Officer and deployed to the North Atlantic. In 1992, Captain Kern served as a junior member on the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.

Captain Kern reported as Executive Officer on
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739 Gold)
in 1995 and conducted four strategic deterrent patrols. During his tour, Nebraska’s crew earned the Submarine Squadron Twenty Battle "E" Award, the United States Strategic Command's Omaha Trophy, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....

. In 1997, Captain Kern was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations

The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...

 Staff in the Directorate for Submarine Warfare.

In June 1999, Captain Kern took command of
USS San Francisco (SSN-711)

USS San Francisco (SSN-711)

USS San Francisco , a Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine, is the third ship or boat of the United States Navy to be named for San Francisco, California.-History:...

,
homeported in Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

. Under his leadership, San Francisco was awarded a Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation, two consecutive Fleet Golden Anchor Awards, and completed an Engineered Refueling Overhaul three months ahead of schedule.

Captain Kern assumed command of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Virginia in August 2002. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...

 (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, and various other unit awards.