Stuart B. Munsch

Stuart Benjamin Munsch (born 1962) is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples from 27 June 2022 to 18 November 2025. Prior to that, he served as the director for joint force development, J7, of the Joint Staff from 2020 to 2022.

Munsch is also the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty, having received the title and accompanying decanter from John C. Aquilino on 26 June 2024.

Early life and education Munsch, a native of Oakes, North Dakota, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. At the United States Naval Academy, he was brigade commander of the Class of 1985 and was an All-American and national champion pistol shooter. Selected for a Rhodes Scholarship, he attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics.

Naval career Munsch was assigned to four consecutive sea duty assignments, serving on , , on the staff of commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5, and . In 1999, Munsch reported ashore to U.S. Pacific Command, where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) prior to becoming deputy executive assistant to the commander. He then was selected for a White House Fellowship and served as special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Munsch commanded from 2002 to 2005, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and then as executive assistant to the director, submarine warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N87).

Munsch commanded Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 5 from 2008 to 2010 and then returned to the Pentagon to head the Navy Strategy branch (OPNAV N513). Selected for flag rank, he was reassigned as deputy director, undersea warfare (OPNAV N97).

Sent overseas to Japan and Bahrain, Munsch commanded Submarine Group 7 and Task Forces 74 and 54 from 2013 to 2015, followed by duty in the Pentagon as the senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. In 2017 Munsch reported to OPNAV N3/N5 as the assistant and in 2018 became the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy. In 2019 he established and served as the initial deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, N7. He assumed his role as director for joint force development (J7) in 2020.

Awards and decorations

Submarine Warfare Officer InsigniaDefense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusterNavy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit with four gold award starsDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award starJoint Meritorious Unit AwardNavy Unit CommendationNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationNavy "E" Ribbon, 1st awardNavy Expeditionary MedalNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver service starNavy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with three bronze service starsNavy Expert Rifleman MedalNavy Expert Pistol Shot MedalDeep Submergence Insignia in goldCommand at Sea insigniaAllied Joint Force Command Naples Badge