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 , , , , , 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 ; VA-75 aboard ; Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 aboard Eisenhower; and as the executive officer of VA-196 aboard . 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 .

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.

While commanding Carrier Strike Group 11, Mewbourne oversaw the home port shift of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) from Everett, WA to Bremerton, WA. Mewbourne elected to volunteer the ship to conduct at-sea trials for the F-35C Lightning II rather than allowing crew members time to move their households and families to the new duty station over the Christmas holiday period.

Mewbourne retired from the U.S. Navy on June 30, 2022 at Scott Air Force Base.

Awards and decorations

Naval Flight OfficerNavy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit with one silver and one gold award starsMeritorious Service Medal with four award starsAir Medal with Combat V, one bronze service star and bronze Strike/Flight numerals 2Joint Service Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award starNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award starJoint Meritorious Unit AwardNavy Unit CommendationCoast Guard Unit Commendation with "O" deviceNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationNavy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E devicesNavy Expeditionary MedalNational Defense Service Medal with service starArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service starSouthwest Asia Service Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and four bronze service starsNavy Accession Training Service RibbonNATO Medal for the former YugoslaviaKuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Navy Rifle Marksmanship RibbonNavy Pistol Sharpshooter RibbonCommand at Sea insigniaUnited 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.