Capt. Greg Zettler, is a native of Springfield, Virginia and graduated from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in May 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in general engineering. He completed naval nuclear power training in Orlando, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina.

In June 2000, Zettler earned a master’s in leadership and human resource development from the Naval Postgraduate School and began serving as a company officer at the USNA. Following his tour at the Naval Academy, he attended the Submarine Officer Advanced Course where he earned the L.Y. Spear Award as class honor graduate. He also holds a master's degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces where he graduated with distinction in addition to completing the Defense Acquisition University's Senior Acquisition Course.

Zettler reported aboard USS Phoenix (SSN 702) in December 1995 where he served in a variety of submarine-division officer roles during Phoenix's deployment to the North Atlantic and through completion of all preparations for its decommissioning. He next served as communications officer aboard USS Norfolk (SSN 714) during a deployment to the Mediterranean where Norfolk participated in combat operations during Noble Anvil/Allied Force, the NATO operation against Serbian aggression in Kosovo. Zettler reported aboard USS Scranton (SSN 756) as navigator and operations officer in October 2002 and deployed to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) while aboard. He was executive officer on USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) (Blue Team) and completed four strategic deterrence patrols. Zettler returned to USS Norfolk (SSN 714)  in November 2011 as commanding officer. While in command, Norfolk completed two deployments to U.S. European Command, USCENTCOM and U.S. Africa Command earning the 2013 Commander Submarine Squadron 6 Battle Efficiency "E".

Zettler’s shore duty assignments include staff at Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, Capabilities and Resource Integration Directorate as the anti-submarine warfare requirements officer. He served as the deputy special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for joint matters; was the senior member of the tactical readiness evaluation team at Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT; and director of test and evaluation in the Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS404) under Program Executive Office, Submarines.

Zettler is proud to have served with teams that earned a Navy Unit Commendation medal three Meritorious Unit Commendations and four Battle "E" Awards for excellence. His personal awards include the two Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals. Zettler was also COMSUBLANT's nominee for the 2014 Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership.

Last Updated: 19 May 2023