Capt. Jon Grant, an Indianapolis native, will retire from the U.S. Navy after 38 years of honorable service, Oct. 1, 2021.

Grant recently turned over command of Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Det West to Capt. Brandon Bryan, commanding officer of CSCS’ Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center (FASW) and received his third Legion of Merit for his numerous accomplishments while serving as officer in charge.

Under his exceptional leadership, CSCS Det West successfully delivered over 60 courses of instruction that supported over 2,770 U.S. and international students. Grant was responsible for developing young sailors and preparing them for some of the most challenging operational environments. In addition, he ensured CSCS was able to meet the training demands of the fleet during a global pandemic.

“What I enjoyed most about my job was interacting with junior sailors and shaping them into confident and competent warfighters,” Grant said.

CSCS is a global organization that consists of 14 learning sites / detachments located throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Japan, and Spain. Over 1,900 instructors train an average of 34,500 sailors a year. CSCS is the only training command that trains every individual surface navy warfighter in the maintenance, operations, and tactical employment of surface combat systems.

When asked why he joined the Navy, Grant said, “I really wanted to serve my country and see the world.” “It truly has been a wonderful experience for me and my family.”

Grant enlisted in the Navy in Aug. 1983. Following recruit training, he attended Naval Gunnery School in both Great Lakes, Illinois, and San Diego. In June 1994, Grant was commissioned through the limited duty officer program.

His sea duty officer assignments include combat systems test officer aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and weapons officer aboard USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). While serving as weapons officer, he led his team in the first tomahawk cruise missile strikes against Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ashore, Grant served as the officer in charge of then AEGIS Training and Readiness Center Detachment, San Diego; staff officer for then Commander, Mobile Mine Assembly Group, Corpus Christi, Texas; officer in charge of Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division Unit Sasebo, Japan; officer in charge, Ammunition Management Office Pacific San Diego; commanding officer of Navy Munitions Command Pacific East Asia Division Unit Guam; commanding officer of Training Support Center, San Diego; commanding officer of Navy Munitions Command, Mobile Mine Assembly Group, San Diego; commanding officer of Naval Support Facility (NSF) Deveselu in Romania, the first Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) facility placed into operation, providing support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) overall ballistic missile defense (BMD) system; strike force interoperability officer for Naval Information Forces West, San Diego; and commanding officer of NSF Redzikowo in Poland, the second operational site for the AAMDS.

“The Navy has had a significant impact on my life,” Grant said. “I have been fortunate and blessed to have the support of my family and friends throughout my naval career. They have been with me every step of the way.”

Grant is the son of Martha Grant who resides in LaFollette, Tennessee.

He and his wife, Kristina, both reside in Temecula, California. Their daughter, Rachel, is a sophomore at San Diego State University.

Kimberly M. Lansdale works in public affairs for the Center for Surface Combat Systems.