FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2021
Release #2132 Point of Contact—Jeffrey Prater (401) 832-2039
Change of charge ceremony held at NUWC Division Newport’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center
Cmdr. Michael R. Fasano assumed duties as officer in charge of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport range detachment, the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), in a change of charge ceremony held on Andros Island in the Bahamas on May 27, 2021.
Fasano relieved Cmdr. Michael A. Woodcock, who has been officer in charge at AUTEC since Feb. 15, 2019, and will report to the USS Frank Cable to serve as the executive officer. Division Newport Commanding Officer Capt. Chad Hennings attended the event and presented Woodcock with a Meritorious Service Medal.
Fasano was raised in East Patchogue, New York, and enlisted in the Navy in February 1991 as a submarine electronics technician. In 2002, he was advanced to chief petty officer and in January 2005, he was commissioned as a submarine electronics limited duty officer (LDO). Upon completion of LDO Indoctrination School, he reported to USS Frank Cable (AS-40) where he completed his qualifications as a surface warfare officer and engineering officer of the watch.
His other tours of duty include: LDO aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23); COMSUBDEVRON FIVE Detachment Undersea and Development; assistant officer in charge of COMSUBDEVRON FIVE Detachment Sierra; operations officer and force protection officer of Naval Base Kitsap; Ocean Systems department head for the Naval Research Laboratory (sea component); afloat officer in charge of COMSUBDEVRON FIVE Detachment Undersea and Development; and project officer for Research and Development and Support Activity.
Fasano holds a Bachelor’s of Science in management from the University of Phoenix and double master’s degrees in business and administration and project management from Devry’s Keller Graduate School of Management. He is authorized to wear the surface warfare officer pin, gold submarine dolphins and the information warfare officer pin, as well as the deep submergence insignia. His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards) the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (seven awards), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (eight awards), the Presidential Unit Citation and various other campaign and unit awards.
His full biography is posted at: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/What-We-Do/Detachments/AUTEC/Military-Detachment/Leadership/
NUWC Division Newport is a shore command of the U.S. Navy within the Naval Sea Systems Command, which engineers, builds and supports America’s fleet of ships and combat systems. NUWC Newport provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures associated with undersea warfare.
NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher's Island, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut.
###