Captain Richard E. Seif

Chief of Staff

Captain Seif is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the College of William and Mary’s Mason School of Business.

Captain Seif served as Commanding Officer of USS BUFFALO (SSN 715), home ported in Guam, from April 2010 to February 2013. During his tour, BUFFALO conducted extensive operations in the Western Pacific, and the ship was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Battle Efficiency awards, and the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. Immediately following command of BUFFALO, Captain Seif was assigned command of USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN 699) from February to August 2013, completing the ship’s Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific deployment.

Captain Seif’s previous sea assignments include Executive Officer aboard USS HOUSTON (SSN 713), home ported in Guam, Engineer Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723), home ported in Norfolk, and Junior Officer aboard USS NEWPORT NEWS (SSN 750), also home ported in Norfolk. During these tours, Captain Seif conducted forward deployed operations in the North Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific regions.

Ashore, Captain Seif most recently served as Commodore, Submarine Squadron ONE. Prior to this tour, he served in the Pentagon as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Submarine Group SEVEN / Task Force 74 in Yokosuka, Japan. Captain Seif’s other shore assignments include service as the Navy’s national director of submarine and nuclear power recruiting, board member and executive officer of the Fleet Forces Command Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, and flag aide to Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet / Submarines Allied Command Atlantic.