About our Senior Naval Science Instructor

Captain John D. Deehr is a native of Warren, Ohio and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio in 1982. He joined the Navy in 1985 and received his commission through Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island in February 1986.

His first tour of duty was aboard USS Caloosahatchee  (AO 98), in Norfolk, Virginia where he served as Weapons Officer and Communications Officer. In November 1989, Captain Deehr reported to Commander, Combat Logistics Squadron TWO in Leonardo, New Jersey where he served as Assistant Operations Officer.

Following Department Head School, Captain Deehr reported to USS Platte (AO 186) in Norfolk in October 1993 and served as the First Lieutenant. In August 1995, he reported to USS Essex (LHD 2) in San Diego, California and completed a 26-month tour as First Lieutenant.

In July 1999, Captain Deehr reported as the Executive Officer, in USS Ogden (LPD 5) in San Diego.  Captain Deehr took command of USS Germantown (LSD 42) homeported in San Diego on October 26, 2004 and deployed to the Arabian Gulf in February 2006 as part of the Peleliu ARG.  During this deployment, Germantown conducted maritime security operations throughout the gulf region and served as the Afloat Forward Staging Base for anti-terrorism and force protection units at Al Basrah and Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminals in Iraq.  Under his command, Germantown won the 2006 Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award for amphibious ships.

In October 2010 Captain Deehr reported to USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in San Diego and completed a 20 month tour as Executive Officer prior to taking command in June 2012. Under his command, PELELIU completed an eight month deployment to the Fifth Fleet AOR and won the 2012 and 2013 Battle Efficiency Awards and the 2013 Admiral Flately Memorial Award for Aviation Safety.

Captain Deehr's shore tours include: Naval Operations Instructor, Command and Control Systems Course, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia; Amphibious Placement Officer and Deputy Director, Pers-41, Naval Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee; Assistant Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel, Commander Naval Surface Forces, San Diego, California; Deputy Chief of Operations Plans, U.S. Central Command,Tampa, Florida and Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer, University of Washington NROTC.  Captain Deehr attended the Naval War College in 2003 and received his Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Captain Deehr’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign, unit, and service awards.

Captain Deehr retired from active duty in March 2016 and was hired as the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Liberty High School in July of that same year.  He was awarded one of two Liberty High School PTSA Outstanding Educator Awards for the 2017-2018 school year.