Rear Admiral Marcus Hitchcock

Commander, Navy Warfare Development Command US Navy

Rear Adm. Marcus Hitchcock is a native of Salt Lake City. He is a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and was subsequently designated a naval aviator in 1987. He is also a graduate of the Naval War College, Armed Forces Staff College and he completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program in 2005.

At sea, Hitchcock commanded "The Swordsmen" of Fighter Squadron (VF) 32, USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Other operational tours include Attack Squadron (VA) 155 as a division officer, VF-32 as a department head and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as executive officer. As a naval aviator, he flew off of USS Ranger (CV 62) in 1991 during Desert Storm, Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) supporting Operations Deliberate Guard and Southern Watch, and Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in 2003 during Iraqi Freedom. As a part of ship’s company, he deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom four times.

Ashore, Hitchcock served as an A-6E instructor pilot at VA-128, flag aide to the deputy chief of naval operations (N8) on the staff of the chief of naval operations, deployable training team member at U.S. Joint Forces Command and deputy CVN requirements officer for Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet.

As a flag officer, he previously served as director, fleet/joint training (N7) at U.S. Fleet Forces Command and as commander, John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG 3). He assumed command of Navy Warfare Development Command in September 2017.

Hitchcock’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat V), and Bronze Star.  He is most proud to have led Battle "E" and "Golden Anchor" award winning teams in VF-32, LHA 5 and CVN 69, Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" award recipients from VF-32 and CVN 69 and the Battenberg Cup and "Jig Dog" Ramage award winning team aboard CVN-69.