Rear Adm. Joseph A. Horn Jr.

He relieves Rear Adm. Brad Hicks. The change of command also marks Rear Adm. Hicks’ retirement and completion of 33 years of active-duty service.

Rear Adm. Horn reports to his new assignment, having most recently served as the deputy director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The Aegis BMD program is a major component of the MDA.

A native of Philadelphia, and Audubon, N.J., Horn graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. His first duty assignment was aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 10) where he served as combat information center officer and damage control assistant.

Subsequent sea duty assignments include tours as operations officer aboard the frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and guided-missile cruiser USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), and executive officer in USS Anzio (CG 68). He commanded USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70). While in command of Lake Erie, the ship conducted multiple successful ballistic missile engagements and won the Spokane Trophy, two Edward F. Ney awards and two Battle ‘E’s.

Horn has deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Eastern and Western Pacific and conducted extensive operations in the Caribbean and Baltic Seas and Atlantic Ocean.

Ashore, Horn earned a master’s degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School. He has also served on the Joint Staff (J8), and the staffs of Joint Forces Command (J6), U.S. Fleet Forces Command (N8) and OPNAV (N86). He is currently assigned as the deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency.

Horn’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (Two Awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Four Awards), Navy Commendation Medal (Two Awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (Two Awards).