Capt. Charles B. Eckhart, USN
Commander,
Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center
A native of California, Capt. Eckhart enlisted in the Navy in 1992 and earned his commission in 1997, under the Admiral Mike Borda Seaman to Admiral Program in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Community.
Capt. Eckhart served onboard USS La Moure County (LST-1194) while enlisted and USS Sentry (MCM-3) to complete his initial sea tour as an ensign before attending Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. His EOD operational tours include: Officer in Charge of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 Detachment 3; Assistant Operations Officer of Combined Joint Task Force Troy in Baghdad, Iraq; Operations Officer and Chief Staff Officer of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2; Executive Officer of Riverine Squadron 2 and Commanding Officer of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, where the command earned the Battle Efficiency Award.
In addition, he has completed tours at Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command as the Underwater Mine Countermeasures Requirements Officer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command as a program analyst for Mine and Expeditionary Warfare, U.S. Northern Command as the Counterterrorism Branch Chief in the Homeland Defense and Protection Division, and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command as the Maritime Operations Center Director. Capt. Eckhart assumed command of Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center June 15, 2023.
Capt. Eckhart's deployments include: '93 Mediterranean cruise, '94 and '96 UNITAS cruises, '02 Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection deployment to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, '07 and '09 deployments to Iraq supporting operation Iraqi Freedom and his most recent deployment was in '14 while serving as Commanding Officer of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, where he deployed as Commander of Task Group 56.1 and Task Group 52.3 supporting operations Spartan Shield, Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve.
Capt. Eckhart holds degrees from the University of San Diego and the Air Command and Staff College.