Cmdr. David T. Spalding
Chief Staff Officer, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG)
02 May 2023
Cmdr. David T. Spalding is a native of Florida. He enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1996. Following Basic Training at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., he reported to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. for language training in Persian-Farsi. Upon completion of his training in September 1997, he was designated a Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) (CTI). He then continued through the training pipeline to qualify as a Naval Air Crewman.
His enlisted tours as a CTI included Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Ft. Meade, Md. from 1997 through 1998, and Naval Security Group Detachment (NSGD) Bahrain from 1998 through 2002. During these tours he primarily operated as an Airborne Cryptologic Direct Support Element operator and supervisor in EP-3E and P-3C Special Projects aircraft - accruing 2,000 flight hours in Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. He also deployed in multiple U.S. and Allied surface and subsurface combatants and conducted missions while augmented to Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT).
In 2002, Cmdr. Spalding was selected for the Seaman-to-Admiral TWENTY ONE, or STA-21, program. He graduated from Florida State University in December 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and was commissioned an Ensign (Cryptologic Warfare Officer).
His officer tours include Submarine Direct Support Officer at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Georgia from 2004 through 2008; Information Warfare Officer on board USS Lassen (DDG 82) - Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan from 2008 through 2011; Force Allocation Officer on the staff of U.S. 10
th Fleet / U.S. Fleet Cyber Command from 2011 through 2013; Officer in Charge Navy Information Operations Detachment Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from 2013 through 2016; Intelligence Planner, Executive Officer to the Director of Intelligence (J2), Chief of Targets Plans and Policy at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla., from 2016 through 2020; Deputy Information Warfare Commander / Assistant Chief of Staff for Integrated Fires at Carrier Strike Group TEN embarked on USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) from 2020 through 2022; and Director of Afloat Training at Naval Information Warfighting Development Center from 2022 through 2023.
In April 2023, he reported for duty as Chief Staff Officer at Naval Information Warfare Training Group Headquarters which is responsible for three subordinate commands, two detachments and two reserve commands.
Cmdr. Spalding’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Air Medal (Strike / Flight) with the numeral “2”, three Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, and numerous unit and campaign medals. He is a Joint Qualified Officer.