Commander Ben Cantu

Commanding Officer, USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. (DDG-124)

A 2004 graduate of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program from Auburn University, Commander Cantu earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He is originally from Tennessee. A career surface warfare officer, Commander Cantu's shipboard assignments include: USS Mason (DDG 87) as Gunnery Officer and Auxiliaries Officer, HSV 2 SWIFT (Blue Crew) as Operations Officer, and both USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Princeton (CG 59) as Operations Officer. Ashore, he served as Surface Warfare Junior Officer Assignment and Distribution Officer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee and Action Officer on the OPNAV Staff for the Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (N13) in Arlington, Virginia. Most recently, he served as Executive Officer, USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55). His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

Commander Joseph R. Mills

Executive Officer, USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. (DDG-124)

CDR Joe Mills is a native of Bay Shore, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2009, and earned a Masters in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 2016.

CDR Mills‘ operational assignments include Main Propulsion Officer and Strike Officer in USS DECATUR (DDG 73), and Navigator in USS STOCKDALE (DDG 106). As a Department Head, he served as Operations Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG 60).

Ashore, CDR Mills served as a Surface Warfare Junior Officer Assignment and Distribution Officer at Navy Personnel Command (PERS-41). Following his Department Head Tours, he served as Flag Aide to Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic and Executive Assistant to the Navy Chief of Legislative Affairs. Most recently, he served as the Branch Head of International Capabilities Division, Joint Staff J8, Force Structure, Resources and Assessments Directorate.

His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF KENSON JACQUES

Command Master Chief, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124)

Command Master Chief Kenson Jacques is a native of Haiti. He enlisted in the United States Navy in October 2002 and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon graduation, he attended Fireman Apprentice PACC School at Service School Command, Great Lakes.

His sea duty assignments include tours aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan; USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan; USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and USS Higgins (DDG 76), stationed in San Diego, California, and later forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as the Departmental Leading Chief Petty Officer for Engineering and Administration. Following his selection to the Command Senior Enlisted Leader Program, he served as the Command Senior Chief aboard USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), Blue Crew, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.

Ashore, Command Master Chief Jacques served as an instructor at Surface Warfare Engineering School Command (SWESC), Great Lakes, Illinois, and as a Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes while he was there he earned his Distinguished Leadership Award (DLA).

He holds a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and Accounting from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Columbia College of Missouri. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 248, Gold Group) and the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat Course (Class 24100) at the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island. He is qualified in both Enlisted Surface Warfare and Enlisted Aviation Warfare. His additional certifications include Master Training Specialist, Resilient Building Leadership Professional Trainer, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Command Master Chief Jacques’ personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5), Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, along with numerous unit, campaign, and service awards.