Captain Chris Goodson

In his military career, Captain Chris Goodson served in a variety of posts. He bega in 1991 as an Information Systems Technician, thenNaval Computer and Telecommunications Station Hampton Roads served as an Information Systems Officer, Chief Engineer, Commander of Amphibious Squadron EIGHT, Area Master for Naval Computer and Telecommunications for the Puget Sound Pacific Detachment, and Combat Systems Officer for the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier.

From March 2012 until November 2014, he was Navy Blue Team Director. FRom May 2019 until April of last year, he was the Executive Officer of NAVCOMTELSTA BAHRAIN, then became Commanding Officer of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Captain Goodson is a native of Lincolnton. He entered the Navy in September 1991 as a Radioman. He served aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and NCTAMS LANT. A graduate of Norfolk State University, he received his commission in 2000 through the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) as a Surface Warfare Officer. He is a graduate of Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, with a Master’s degree in Information Systems Technology Management with a concentration in Computer Science. He has completed the Federal Chief Information Officer certification from the National Defense University in Washington, DC.

Captain Goodson says he chose a military career to serve his country, obtain college educational benefits, provide a better life for his family, travel the world, and for the challenge of leading sailors and civilians in the operation of million-dollar equipment. He added: “Some of us go through our daily lives working toward something that is going to be beneficial to us. As a member of the military, you have the opportunity to serve a cause that affects the entire world.” His career includes more than 13 years of sea duty assignments including USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) as Communications Officer and EKMS Manager where he deployed with Amphibious Task Force, EAST providing communications and network support for embarked Marines, EOD, and Seal Teams during the initial ground phase campaign of Iraqi Freedom. His second division tour was aboard USS Cole (DD G 67) as Fire Control Officer. His department head tours included USS Ashland (LSD 48) as Chief Engineer where he screened for early command and Commander, Amphibious Squadron EIGHT as Training Officer(N7) and C5I Officer(N6) where he laterally transferred to the Information Professional Community in 2010, completing his O-4 Operational Milestone tour. CDR Goodson completed his O-5 Operational Milestone tour as Combat Systems Officer aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73). He has deployed to the US Southern Command, US Central Command and US European Command theaters.

Captain Goodson’s shore assignments include Navy Information Operations Command, Norfolk as Navy Blue Team Director. He led Navy Blue Team Cyber Quick Response teams during Operation Rolling Tide across the Navy Cyber Domain in support of Fleet Cyber Command cyberspace war fighting objectives. Following his service as NCTAMS Pacific Detachment Puget Sound from 2015-2017 Officer-in-Charge, his last assignment was as Executive Officer at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Bahrain.

Captain Goodson has achieved many great things throughout his military career; but he has never forgotten his roots. He quips, “Most people in the Navy do not know where Lincolnton is on the map, but I tell them stories about how I was raised by my mom, Lucille Ross. My father passed away when I was six months old, so my mom worked 12 hours workdays to provide for us. She would come home from work and cook for me and my three brothers, cousin, and nephew. My mom made sure we did our schoolwork, taught us how to cook and do yard work. She raised six boys and made me into the man I am today. SHE is my hero! Everything I have achieved in my Naval career is because of how she raised me. Work ethic and determination are traits I learned from her.”

Captain Goodson was relieved as Commanding Officer at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Hampton Roads by Commander Brian Conner on October 15, 2021. NCTS Hampton Roads delivers responsive, resilient, and secure operational and tactical command and control capabilities worldwide, maintaining information superiority for US Navy ships globally and joint and coalition forces operating in multi-domain environments.