Vice Admiral John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, signed an instruction officially transferring oversight of the Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO) program to the Reserve Force in a ceremony held at Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Aug. 1.
The instruction signed into effect by Mustin officially transfers oversight of the Strategic Sealift Officer program from the Active to Reserve Force. As the SSO program Resource Sponsor, the Reserve Component will now have complete oversight of the entire SSO program, to include the SSO Midshipman program, SSO Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and SSO Selected Reserve (SELRES) Sailors.
“This is a clear win for the Reserve Force and our SSOs who represent the only 100% Reserve Component community in the Navy,” said Capt. Eric Johnson, Chief of Staff. “This move provides a flag sponsor and advocate for the entire community and, by refining command and control, updating our mission, and streamlining our processes, we're not just enhancing our support for critical sealift operations - we're providing our SSOs with improved career pathways and ensuring we're better prepared to meet the complex demands of our global maritime environment.”
The instruction also establishes clear command and control to streamline program management, delineates administrative control (ADCON) and operational control (OPCON) responsibilities, and updates the overall SSO mission to better align with current strategic needs and operational demands.
The Strategic Sealift Officer Force (SSOF) provides warfare-qualified Navy Reserve Officers with civilian Merchant Mariner credentials and military training to support the activation, operation, and sustainment of the United States organic Sealift fleet, in contested environments, and in support of Maritime Domain Operations and the Maritime Industrial Base throughout the continuum of conflict.
Mustin acknowledged the hard work and dedication of longtime SSO program administrators including Johnson, Cmdr. Heather Davenport, SSO N14 Program Manager Cmdr. Steve Hohenshelt, and Military Sealift Command Total Force Management Director Gregg R. Pelowski in making the transition happen.
“There’s been a significant investment made in this program over time by the Reserve Force,” said Mustin.“This is a significant milestone, and I know for many, this is a long time coming. Thank you all for your persistence in helping to make this day possible.”
In May, 1973, the Navy Reserve Merchant Marine program was re-established via the release of OPNAVNOTE 5440 to, “provide a continuing source of well-qualified Merchant Marine officers whose professional naval development within the program will enhance the Merchant Marine-Navy coordination in time of peace, national emergency, or war.”
The Navy Reserve Merchant Marine Program became the Strategic Sealift Officer Force in 2011 to provide the Navy with assured manpower of properly credentialed Merchant Mariners with military training to support the operation and sustainment of Strategic Sealift.
The SSRG is now administratively controlled (ADCON) by Commander Navy Reserve Forces (CNRFC N14). CNRFC N14 is the SSO Virtual Navy Reserve Activity responsible for the mobilization readiness of the entire SSO Force.
The SSOF are Navy Reserve Officers in the Strategic Sealift Readiness Group (SSRG) of the Individual Ready Reserve and Selected Reserve (SELRES) officers attached to other Navy deployable units.
SSOs are graduates of federal or state maritime academies who possess unlimited Merchant Mariner credentials to operate commercial vessels and are trained as warfighters to operate in an increasingly contested maritime environment.
Certain civilians with Merchant Mariner credentials can direct commission (DCO) as SSOs. To check on available DCO quotas please contact your nearest Navy Reserve recruiter. To find out more on how to become a Strategic Sealift Officer, please visit the US Merchant Marine Academy website at https://www.usmma.edu/.
Rear Adm. Richard S. Lofgren serves as the Acting Chief of Navy Reserve and Acting Commander, Navy Reserve Force. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for Navy Reserve personnel and operations worldwide, supporting the readiness and integration of Reserve forces across the fleet. A Surface Warfare Officer, Rear Adm. Lofgren brings extensive operational and command experience across maritime expeditionary, coastal riverine, and surface warfare missions, including service in senior leadership roles supporting U.S. naval operations in multiple geographic combatant commands. His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and the effective employment of Navy Reserve forces in support of national security objectives.
Rear Adm. Luke Frost is a Surface Warfare Officer with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across the fleet. He has served in senior command roles at sea and ashore, including command of major surface combatants and amphibious forces operating throughout the Central Command and Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility. As a Flag Officer, Rear Adm. Frost served as Director, Reserve Warfare (OPNAV N0959) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he provided oversight and strategic guidance for Reserve force integration and readiness. His career reflects a deep commitment to warfighting excellence, joint operations, and the effective employment of naval forces in support of U.S. national security objectives.
Rear Admiral John Saccomando is a Naval Aviator with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across both active and reserve components. He has served in multiple senior command and flag assignments supporting naval aviation, expeditionary operations, and installation readiness, including leadership roles within U.S. Fleet Forces and Naval Air Forces Atlantic. A combat-experienced aviator, Rear Adm. Saccomando brings deep expertise in joint operations, force integration, and operational readiness, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing naval capabilities and supporting U.S. national security objectives worldwide.
Rear Adm. Greg Emery is a Navy Reserve flag officer with extensive leadership experience across naval oceanography, intelligence, and information warfare. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has served in a wide range of operational, command, and staff assignments supporting global naval and joint operations, including senior leadership roles within Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Rear Adm. Emery brings deep expertise in intelligence integration, operational support, and information warfare, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing decision advantage and mission readiness across the fleet.
Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Navy Reserve, advising on the readiness, welfare, and professional development of approximately 59,000 Reserve Component Sailors supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and joint operations worldwide. A seasoned Command Master Chief, she brings extensive experience across aviation, expeditionary, and information warfare communities, with senior enlisted leadership assignments at the unit, regional, and force levels. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to Sailor advocacy, operational readiness, and the effective integration of Navy Reserve forces in support of national defense objectives.
Command Master Chief Lyons brings extensive operational and shore-based leadership experience across aviation, logistics, manpower, and readiness organizations within the Navy Reserve enterprise. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2016, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at Navy Operational Support Center Pearl Harbor, Navy Personnel Command, Maritime Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. An Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is recognized for sustained excellence in leadership and readiness, earning multiple personal, joint, and unit awards throughout his career.
Command Master Chief Louvier enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and brings extensive aviation maintenance and readiness leadership experience across multiple Fleet Logistics, Strike Fighter, Helicopter, and Reserve aviation commands. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2015, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at VR-56, Commander, Tactical Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. An Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and multiple executive leadership programs and has earned numerous personal and unit awards for sustained excellence in leadership and mission readiness.
Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson was born in Garden Grove, California, and raised in Sacramento. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 2002, and completed recruit training and Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois. His career spans operational, reserve, aviation, and senior enlisted leadership assignments, and he currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve.