Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Group ONE

UUVGRU-1

 
Silverdale, WA
 

CAPT Michael Dolbec

Commanding Officer, UUVGRU-1

CAPT Dolbec

Captain Dolbec, a native of Manchester, NH, was commissioned in 2000 from Officer Candidate School after earning a bachelor’s degree in Ocean Sciences from Maine Maritime Academy. He holds master’s degrees in Engineering Science from the Naval Postgraduate School and Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

At sea, he commanded the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS TEXAS (SSN 775) homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during which he completed an INDOPACOM deployment and a CENTCOM deployment. He also commanded the USS JOHN WARNER (SSN 785) during a EUCOM deployment. His other sea tours include assignment as a division officer on USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21), Navigation and Operations Officer onboard USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757), and Executive Officer onboard USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN 711). These assignments included operations in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and multiple deployments to the North Atlantic, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific. While serving with the Royal Navy he also completed a North Atlantic deployment with the TRAFALGAR Class SSN, HMS TIRELESS.

His assignments ashore include USCYBERCOM where he served as the Director, Joint Operations Center and Chief, Current Operations (J33) as well as the OIC, Task Force Readiness. He also served as the Submarine Group 8 Deputy for Submarine Support in Naples, Italy. As an exchange officer to the United Kingdom, he served as the submarine tactics officer at the Maritime Warfare Centre and created a tactics development program utilizing commercial unmanned submarines. During his time with the NPS Undersea Warfare Program he developed a new method of navigation for autonomous undersea vehicles by applying vision-based velocity detection to forward-looking SONAR. For his research he received the National Defense Industrial Association Rear Admiral Jack Jarabak Medal for advancement in undersea warfare. He took command of Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group ONE in June of 2024.

Captain Dolbec is authorized to wear multiple personal awards. However, he is most proud of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and five Battle Efficiency “E” awards earned while serving with outstanding teams.