U.S. Navy photo by Gary Wagner Rear Adm. Joe Horn (L) chats with Rear Adm. Stewart O’Bryan following the change-of-command ceremony. Horn will continue to command the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program, also headquartered at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren.

‘‘I am honored by the opportunity to serve the commander for the Navy Air and Missile Defense Command, building on the great framework and body of work that Rear Admirals Hicks and Horn have laid out over the past nine months,” O’Bryan said.

Rear Adm. O’Bryan’s assignment reflects both the increasing size and scope of responsibility of the command, which is slated to reach full operational capability within the next two years, and the increased emphasis Navy is placing on both Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and the larger Integrated Air and Missile Defense domains.

‘‘Navy’s expanding role in the critical IAMD and BMD arenas represents significant challenges and opportunities for the months and years ahead,” O’Bryan added, ‘‘and I look forward to working within the Navy, with our sister services, and across DoD to ensure we put the best possible capability in the hands of our Sailors as quickly as possible.”

As the commander of NAMDC, O’Bryan is tasked to assess, integrate and synchronize Navy IAMD efforts across the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, logistics, personnel and facilities (DOTMLPF) spectrum; interface with operational commands, resource sponsors, system commands, research organizations, doctrine developers, training organizations and other COEs; and provide IAMD operational mission support to the Fleet.

O’Bryan reports to Dahlgren from his previous duties as director, Maritime Domain Awareness, on CNO’s staff, a post he had served in since October 2008.

A native of Louisville, Ky., O’Bryan graduated from the University of Louisville and was commissioned in 1978 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Additionally, he graduated from the Naval War College in 1992 with a master’s degree in national security and strategic study.

Among his sea-duty assignments, O’Bryan served as repair division officer and repairs officer aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) and as an engineer officer aboard USS Gallery (FFG 26) and USS Tattnall (DDG 19). He served as commanding officer of USS Excel (MSO 439), USS Esteem (MSO 438) forward-deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Earnest Will, USS Gallant (MSO 489), USS Cole (DDG 67), and as Commander Destroyer Squadron 22, forward-deployed as Sea Combat commander (SCC) for USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and as Commander Task Group 55.6 in the Red Sea in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

O’Bryan also served as Chief of Staff, U.S. 6th Fleet, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, and as Commander, Carrier Strike Group 3 and Commander, John C. Stennis Strike Group from September 2007 to September 2008.

The admiral’s previous shore assignments have included Navy Recruiter Officer Programs in Naval District 4; Export Control and National Defense Policy action officer in the Joint Staff J-5, Strategic Plans and Policy directorate; executive assistant for the Joint Staff Deputy Director for International Negotiations; executive assistant for the Deputy and Chief of Staff, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; requirements officer Theater Air Warfare Branch, Chief of Naval Operations; requirements branch head, assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Missile Defense; executive assistant to the Commander Naval Forces Europe in Naples, Italy; and director, Standing Joint Force Headquarters, U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk.