Meet the Crew

CAPT. MARY KATEY HAYS

COMMANDING OFFICER, USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128)

Captain Hays is a native of Tampa, Florida. She received her commission in 1999 from the United States Naval Academy where she earned a Bachelor of Science in History. She earned a certificate and Associate Degree in Modern Standard Arabic from the Defense Language Institute in 2004 and a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Middle Eastern Studies) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2005, graduating with distinction.

Her sea assignments include Damage Control Assistant and Navigator in USS MILIUS (DDG 69), Engineer Officer in USS CARNEY (DDG 64) and USS ANTIETAM (CG 54), Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of USS DECATUR (DDG 73), and Deputy Commodore, COMDESRON TWO SIX.

Ashore, she completed an Individual Augmentation assignment as the Civil Affairs Team Officer-in-Charge at SEAL Team ONE in Al Anbar Province, Iraq; Scheduler at Commander, THIRD Fleet; Congressional Liaison in the Surface Warfare Directorate of the Chief of Naval Operations Staff; Maritime Syndicate Lead and Future Operations Officer at Carrier Strike Group FOUR; and Commanding Officer of Afloat Training Group Norfolk. While in command of Afloat Training Group Norfolk, the command earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation for innovative training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Captain Hays assumed duties as Prospective Commanding Officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit TED STEVENS March 27, 2023. She was the first crewmember to report to TED STEVENS. Her decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign and unit awards.

Article By America’s Navy | January 30th, 2023

LT. CMDR. RYAN N. ANDREWS

EXECUTIVE OFFICER, USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128)

Lieutenant Commander Ryan N. Andrews was raised in Redmond, Wash. and Wasilla, Alaska, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Washington in 2009. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College where he completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. Lt. Cmdr. Andrews enlisted in the Navy in 1999. Following initial training in the Fire Controlman and Aegis SPY-1D training pipelines, he served aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) from 2001-2005 where he completed a deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003 and a homeport shift from San Diego, Calif. to Yokosuka, Japan in 2004. In 2005 he separated from the Navy as a Second Class Petty Officer in order to pursue his education. While attending the University of Washington, he served for one year in the Washington Army National Guard as a communications technician and forest firefighter. In 2009 he earned a commission through Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. and reported to USS Decatur (DDG 73) in San Diego, Calif. that same year as Administrative Officer. He also served as CF Division Officer and Assistant Weapons Officer during his first division officer tour. In 2012 he reported to Commander, Destroyer Squadron FOUR ZERO (CDS 40) in Mayport, Fla. as Assistant Future Operations Officer. He completed Department Head School in 2017 and reported to USS Kidd (DDG 100) in Everett, Wash. as Operations Officer. His second department head tour was aboard USS Antietam (CG 54), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan where he served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer. In 2022 he reported to Commander, Carrier Strike Group ELEVEN (CCSG 11) where he is currently serving as N1 / Assistant Chief of Staff for Administration & Personnel and Flag Secretary. He is slated to be the first Executive Officer of PCU Ted Stevens (DDG 128), which is being built in Pascagoula, Miss. and will be homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Ashore, Lt. Cmdr. Andrews served as the Afloat Personnel Exchange Program Officer with the Brazilian Navy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this tour he was the Assistant Operations Officer aboard BNS Almirante Saboia (LST 25).

Lt. Cmdr. Andrews is fluent in Brazilian Portuguese. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit and personal awards.