Guest Speaker for 2026 USS Towers DDG-9 Manitowoc, WI Reunion
Edward J. “Ed” Harrington, USN, Ret.
Ed Harrington grew up in Dartmouth, Massachusetts and was commissioned in 1984 after completing Naval ROTC at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics. He reported aboard USS TOWERS (DDG-9) stationed in Yokosuka, Japan as part of the USS MIDWAY Battle Group, and served as Electronic Warfare Officer, Missile Officer and Main Engines Officer. He then served as Navigator in USS LOCKWOOD (FF-1064), a tour which included one deployment and a homeport shift from Yokosuka, Japan to Long Beach, California.
He graduated from the Naval Post Graduate School in June 1992, earning a Master’s Degree in Operations Research. He then reported aboard USS ANCHORAGE (LSD-36) as Operations Officer, Safety Officer and Senior Watch Officer. He then served as Flag Secretary for Commander, Amphibious Group THREE from September 1995 through February 1997. He filled in as Chief Staff Officer at Commander, Amphibious Squadron THREE for 4 months prior to reporting aboard USS COMSTOCK (LSD-45) as Executive Officer, and completing a 6-month Western Pacific and Persian Gulf deployment..
He reported to OPNAV N81 in Washington, DC in January 1999 as the Amphibious Warfare analyst and was promoted to Commander. After completing a two-year tour he reported to Commander, Special Boat Squadron ONE as Chief Staff Officer. He then served as Commanding Officer, Beach Master Unit ONE from December 2002 to April 2005, followed by a tour of duty onboard USS TARAWA (LHA-1) as Executive Officer and another deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.
Captain Harrington then served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (N3) to Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE from December 2006 to December 2008, and completed an 11-month deployment to Bahrain in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
He then served as Commanding Officer, Assault Craft Unit FIVE from January 2009 through June 2010, followed by duty as Commander, Naval Beach Group ONE where he conducted seven Maritime Pre-Positioning Force exercises, and oversaw the creation of Naval Beach Unit SEVEN in Sasebo, Japan.
After transitioning out of the Navy in June 2014, he supported the Navy’s new large deck amphibious assault ship’s early test and evaluation phase and for 11 years supported the Navy’s Air Cushioned Landing Craft program at Assault Craft Unit Five, located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton, CA. In his spare time he helped military personnel transition successfully to civilian jobs and taught 40 free courses over a 10 year period, while running a veteran networking group specifically designed to connect veterans with services and new career opportunities.
He now lives in Dayton, Ohio with his wife, Shan, who is an active duty Nurse in the US Air Force.
