Welcome, Big Tuna! New Commanding Officer takes command at the Office of Naval Research Global

ByRebeccaWard

Office of Naval Research

ARLINGTON, Va

The Office of Naval Research(ONR)Global,ONR’sinternational arm, welcomed new leadership today, as Capt. Andy “Big Tuna” Berner was sworn inasthenewONRGlobalcommandingofficer during a ceremony at Naval Air Station PatuxentRiver,Maryland.Bernertakesover forCapt.MatthewFarr

Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus served as presiding officer of the change-of-command ceremony, as well aspresenterofawards

“Learning from our partners and allies aroundtheglobeiscriticaltoourmissionof innovating for the Sailors and Marines we have the privilege of serving, said Rothenhaus “Thanks to the partnerships initiated by ONR Global, our Sailors and Marines have access to the latest naval research and developmentfromaroundtheworld.”

“ThepasttwoandahalfyearsunderCapt. Farr’s watch have been truly exceptional,” hecontinued.“Heledthechargetoexpand partner experimentation and start new collaborations.”

The mission of ONR Global is to strengthen the Department of the Navy’s partnerships with strategic allies around the world The command’s origins began 80 years ago in London, England, its currentheadquarters Througheducational outreach,researchsponsorshipsandcollaboration with allied fleets/force commands, ONR Global is addressing the current and futureneedsofSailorsandMarinesbycultivating, sponsoring and discovering innovationathomeandabroad.

ONR Global reaches across five continents with its headquarters in London and offices in six other naval hubs Singapore; Tokyo,Japan;Santiago,Chile;Prague,Czech Republic;SãoPaulo,Brazil;andMelbourne, Australia. The executive officer and other partsofthecommandarelocatedwithinthe ONRheadquartersinArlington Virginia.

While serving as chief of naval research from 2020-2023 Rear Adm. (retired) Lorin SelbyworkedwithbothBernerandFarr,and wastheguestspeakerattoday’sONRGlobal change-of-commandceremony.

“Inthepastfewyears,I’veseenfirsthand theimpactONRGlobalhasmadewithinthe Department of the Navy,” said Selby. “We partner with our global allies to push naval innovation forward, discover new technologiesandimprovewarfightercapabilities.

“Because of Capt. Farr’s, and now Capt. Berner’s, leadership, we are working with thebestmindsintheworldtokeepourSail- orsandMarinesatatechnologicaladvantage over our adversaries, and to find solutions tothemostdifficultchallengestheyfaceon, aboveandbelowthewater.”

Berner is in familiar territory as ONR Global’s new commanding officer He served as the command’s executive officer sinceMay2021andsaidhelooksforwardto continuingitsdistinguishedlegacy.

“I want to thank Capt. Farr for his outstanding leadership over the past two-plus years,” said Berner. “ONR Global is recognized as a world leader not only in naval research but advancing capabilities that impact all of us, and I look forward to advancingthatcriticalmission.”

Prior to joining ONR Global, Berner was commanding officer of the Naval InformationWarfareSystemsCommandSpaceField Activity, where he led the Navy Element at theNationalReconnaissanceOffice(NRO), served as co-chair of the Naval NRO CoordinationGroupandreceivedtheNROGold Medal.

He graduated in 1996 from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Scienceinsystemsengineeringandaminor in Spanish,and was a member of the Pikers rowing crew Berner also holds a Master of Science in operations research and in defense technology and systems. He is a

VS-8spaceoperationsofficerandamember oftheinformationwarfarecommunity

Berner succeeds Farr, who had a memorable tenure as ONR Global commanding officer FarroversawtheGlobal-XChallenge, an initiative that encourages multi-disciplinaryscienceandtechnologypartnership in naval-relevant topics and has awarded over$2millioninprizestosixinternational winnerstodate FarralsohelpedlaunchtheLondonTech Bridge, a collaboration between the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy to sponsor dialogue, joint investment and cooperative developmentbetweenthetwonavies

“It has been an honor to serve the Navy, Marine Corps and nation as the leader of ONR Global,” said Farr “I know the command will continue to explore and discover new capabilities for our Sailors and Marines, and I look forward to followingtheiralways-greatwork.”

Farr is detaching from ONR Global to becomethemilitarydirectoroftheWebster OutlyingFieldinMaryland,partoftheNaval AirWarfareCenterAircraftDivision

Rebecca Ward is a contractor for ONR CorporateStrategicCommunications.