RADM Charles Hamilton II
Program Executive Officer for Ships (PEO (S))

Rear Admiral Hamilton was born in Amityville, NY, in October 1952. He attended Duke University, graduating in May 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. He was commissioned in the Navy in May 1974 through the NROTC Program at Duke.

Rear Admiral Hamilton's sea tours include Electronics Material Officer and Combat Information Center Officer onboard USS HAWKINS DD 873 (1974 to 1976); Fire Control Officer and Missile Officer onboard USS COONTZ DDG 40 (1976 to1978); Operations Officer onboard USS CALLAGHAN DDG 994 (1981 to 1984); Executive Officer, USS FOX CG 33 (1986 to 1988); and Commanding Officer USS OBRIEN DD 975 (1991 to 1993).

Rear Admiral Hamilton's shore tours include Anti-Submarine Warfare Program Analyst and Administrative Assistant to Director, Program Resource Appraisal Division (OP-91), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (1984 to 1986); Head AEGIS Destroyer Section (OP-355F) and Financial Coordinator, AEGIS Cruiser Destroyer Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (1988 to 1990); and Military Staff Specialist for Naval Warfare in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Technology) (1994 to 1996).

In May 1996, Rear Admiral Hamilton became Program Manager for the Arsenal Ship, which was designed to provide massed precision fire support of the theater CINC's warfighting requirements. After completing the first two design phases and passing significant acquisition reform lessons learned to the DD 21 Program Office, Rear Admiral Hamilton closed down the Arsenal Ship Program in March 1998.

From April 1998 to February 2000 RADM Hamilton was the Deputy for Fleet, (PEO TSC-F) in the Program Executive Office Theater Surface Combatants. His responsibilities included both Fleet Introduction and Lifetime Support for 120 surface combatants (DDG 51, CG 47, DDG 993, DD 963, FFG 7).

Rear Admiral Hamilton assumed responsibilities as Program Executive Officer, Surface Strike (PEO (S)) in February 2000. PEO (S)oversaw the Zumwalt-class Land Attack Destroyer (DD (X), the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), Advanced Land Attack Missile (ALAM), Integrated Power System (IPS), and Affordability Through Commonality (ATC) Programs. Following a realignment of the Navy's program executive offices, Rear Admiral Hamilton assumed duties as Deputy Program Executive Officer for Ships in November 2002.

Rear Admiral Hamilton's graduate education includes Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, where he graduated with distinction with a Masters of Arts in National Security Affairs (1981), and National War College where he graduated with distinction and was awarded a Master of Science in National Security Strategy (1994).

Rear Admiral Hamilton's awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award), Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with three gold stars in lieu of second, third, and fourth awards), Navy Commendation Medal and various unit and service awards.