Captain Rich Rogers

Chief of Staff
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

A native of Moscow, Idaho Captain Rich Rogers graduated from the University of Idaho in December 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

At sea, he served as Electrical Division Officer and Reactor Training Assistant aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), Combat Systems Officer aboard USS INGRAHAM (FFG 61) and Reactor Electrical Assistant aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). He was Executive Officer aboard USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36) and Chief Engineer aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). He commanded USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48) and Destroyer Squadron TWENTY TWO assigned to the BUSH Carrier Strike Group.

Ashore, Captain Rogers served as a Shift Engineer, Staff Training Group Officer and Chief Engineer at the A1W Nuclear Training Prototype. He served on the Joint Staff as a Strategic Policy Planner and the Executive Assistant for the Deputy Director for International Negotiations and Middle East/Africa Affairs. He served as an instructor at the Command Leadership School. His most recent assignment was as Deputy and Chief of Staff Commander Naval Surface Force, Atlantic.

Captain Rogers, a Joint Qualified Officer, is a graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Joint Forces Staff College, and he earned a Masters degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. He is a 2009 graduate of the National Security Senior Management program at George Washington University.

He is most proud of the unit awards the commands he has served in received including the 2007 Battenberg Cup aboard USS ENTERPRISE, four Battle Efficiency Awards, and several Joint, Navy and meritorious unit commendations. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation Medals, and the Navy Achievement Medal.