Today, Commander W. Karl Pauli, III was relieved by Commander  J. Allan Towns as Commanding Officer, Commanding Officer, Cryptologic Warfare Maritime Activity SIXTY ONE.  Commander Towns ’ biography follows:

COMMANDER J. ALLAN TOWNS, USN
Commanding Officer
Cryptologic Warfare Maritime Activity SIXTY ONE

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, CDR J. Allan Towns began his service in 1991 as an enlisted Electronic Warfare (EW) technician, eventually becoming a Chief Petty Officer. In 2006, he was commissioned a Limited Duty Officer and was subsequently selected as a restricted line officer in Cryptology in 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies focusing on Eurasia.

His operational tours include service as an EW technician aboard USS Barry (DDG 52); as EW Leading Chief Petty Officer aboard USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81); as Assistant EW Officer for the staff of Commander, Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); as Ship’s Signals Exploitation Space Division Officer aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7); and as Cryptologic Resource Coordinator for the staff of Commander, Carrier Strike Group 4 (CSG 4). He has deployed in support of operations Sharp Guard, Deny Flight, Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom in various roles that include Combat Systems, Air Defense, and Surface Warfare Coordinators; Tactical Action Officer; and Common Tactical Picture Officer for Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4 (CPR 4) of Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and Commander, Task Force 50 (CTF 50).

Ashore, CDR Towns served as EW “A” school instructor and Master Training Specialist at Naval Technical Training Center Corry Station, Pensacola, FL; as a Resource Mission Manager and Operations Officer for Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Colorado at the Aerospace Data Facility, Buckley Air Force Base; as the Cryptologist for Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic at Norfolk, VA where he managed afloat Cryptologic and EW readiness for all of naval aviation; as the Cryptologic Warfare Junior Officer Detailer for Navy Personnel Command, Millington, TN; and as the Executive Officer for Information Warfare Training Command San Diego, San Diego, CA.

Overseas, he was the Integrated Fires Director for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet at Manama, Bahrain where he led the Tomahawk Strike and Mission Planning Cell and all maritime Information Operations activities.

CDR Towns presently serves as the Commanding Officer for Cryptologic Warfare Maritime Activity 61.

In addition to various campaign, service, and unit awards, CDR Towns’ personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (four awards).