CAPT M. Tate Westbrook, USN

Raised in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Westbrook is a graduate of Tulane University where he earned a B.A. in Rhetoric and was commissioned through NROTC.

A Destroyerman, Captain Westbrook’s sea tours have been in surface combatants, starting with USS HAWES, including combat action in Operation Desert Storm. In subsequent tours he served as Combat Systems in USS O’BRIEN (DD 975) forward-deployed in Yokosuka, Japan, then as the commissioning Combat Systems Officer in USS McCAMPBELL (DDG 85). He served as Executive Officer in USS LABOON (DDG 58), and as the first “plankowner” Commanding Officer of USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111), including service as the SNA Chapter President of the Bath, Maine chapter. Selected for Command, Captain Westbrook returned to sea as the forward-deployed of NAVEUR’s permanent Cruiser/ Task Force (CTF-65), based in , Italy, and as of Destroyer 60, based in Rota, .

Ashore, Captain Westbrook has served as a financial manager directly and indirectly contributing to Surface Warfare and the goals of SNA where it matters—in the program and budget: Specifically, • In 2003-2005 at the Agency in the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program and as budget liaison to the House of Representatives—Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. • In 2007-2009, he served in the Navy Programming Office (N80) as the lead programmer for surface ship programs. • Following his Destroyer Command, he reported to the Pentagon as Assistant Director of the Department of the Navy Budget Office (FMB-A) from 2012-2013. • From 2013-2014 he then served as Deputy for Budget and Finance of the Director of Surface Warfare (N960). • CAPT Westbrook is currently assigned as the Programming Integration Branch Head (N801) in the Navy Programming Directorate (N80), skipper of the N80 “Bullpen.”

In 2003, CAPT Westbrook earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. In 2007, he was one of the 30 selected as National Finalists in the White House Fellows program. He also represented the Navy as a 2008-2009 Fellow in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI program. CAPT Westbrook is a Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM).

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement medal, but Captain Westbrook is proudest of his various Unit Awards due to the efforts of his shipmates that these awards represent.