Commanding Officer

Native of Ohio and hailing from West Palm Beach, Florida, CAPT Cave graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy through the Georgia Tech Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

At sea, his assignments include Fire Control Officer in USS CUSHING (DD 985), Administrative and Training Officer in USS THOMAS S GATES (CG 51), Chief Engineer in both USS DE WERT (FFG 45) and USS PRINCETON (CG 59), and Executive Officer of USS RUSSELL (DDG 59). After fleeting up to command in RUSSELL, he took command of USS HALSEY (DDG 97) following a hull-swap. Most recently, he had the privilege to serve as the Commanding Officer of USS ZUMWALT (DDG-1000) prior to arriving as the Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science here at University of New Mexico.

Ashore, he served as Surface liaison officer on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communications Networks (OPNAV N6); two tours with Navy Personnel Command as the Pacific Fleet Cruiser / Destroyer Placement Officer, the Assistant Director for Surface Officer Distribution Division (PERS 41B), and the Branch Head for Surface LCDR/CDR Distribution (PERS-410); and as Executive Assistant to Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet. He also served as an individual augmentee to the joint service Iraqi Assistance Group in Baghdad, Iraq.

Captain Cave earned a Master of Science degree in Space Systems / Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School where he graduated with distinction.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and various campaign and service awards.