United States Navy Captain Joseph St. Michael Hamilton was recently promoted to Captain during a ceremony in Suffolk, Virginia, attended by former shipmates, friends, and family. A career Surface Warfare Officer, Captain Hamilton has served in a wide range of shipboard, command, and shore-based assignments throughout his Navy career.
Captain Hamilton’s shipboard service includes assignments aboard several Navy vessels, USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), as Operations Information Division Officer, Antisubmarine Warfare Officer, and Navigator. USS Russell (DDG 59), as the Operations Officer. USS Patriot (MCM 7), as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. USS Porter (DDG 78): Executive Officer before later assuming command of the ship at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia.
Ashore, Captain Hamilton earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Management, as well as Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase 1 from the Naval Postgraduate School. Most recently, he completed JPME Phase 2 at the Joint Forces Staff College.
His shore assignments include serving as Flag Aide to the Commander, Navy Region Midwest; serving on the Chief of Naval Operations staff as an analyst in the Programming Division (OPNAV N80); and serving as Deputy Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4).
Captain Hamilton is a 2001 graduate of Walterboro High School, where he participated in the NJROTC program, the National Honor Society, and the Band of Blue. He graduated in 2005 from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
Captain Hamilton’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and other campaign awards. Originally from Green Pond, Captain Hamilton is married to the former Leah J.Wimberley. They have two sons, Emory Joseph and Ellison Michael Leo. Captain Hamilton is the son of Joe and Blanche Reid Hamilton.
