Between 1977 and 2001, Commander David D. Bruhn, U.S. Navy (Retired) served twenty-two years on active duty and two in the Naval Reserve, as both an enlisted man and as an officer.

Following completion of basic training, he was a sonar technician aboard USS Miller (FF 1091) and USS Leftwich (DD 984). He was commissioned in 1983 following graduation from California State University at Chico with a BA in Physical Science. His initial assignment was to USS Excel (MSO 439), serving as Supply Officer, Damage Control Assistant, and Chief Engineer. He then served in USS Thach (FFG 43) as Chief Engineer and Destroyer Squadron 13 as Material Officer.

Following graduation from the Naval Postgraduate School with an MS in Management, Bruhn was assigned to the Secretary of the Navy and CNO staffs as a budget analyst and a (Future Years Defense Plan) resources planner. He then attended the Naval War College, receiving an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies.

He commanded the mine countermeasures ships USS Gladiator (MCM 11) and USS Dextrous (MCM 13). Commander Bruhn’s final assignment was Executive Assistant to a senior (SES-4) government service executive at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington, D.C.

Since retiring, he has been a high school science teacher and track coach. He lives in northern California with his wife Nancy and sons David and Michael.

He is the author of Ready to Answer All Bells, published by the Naval Institute Press in 1997. He may be contacted here and would particularly like to receive correspondence from former crewmembers of minesweepers, minesweeping boats, and other mine craft, and the people who designed and constructed them.