Born in Baltimore, Md., Rear Adm. Charles T. Bush began his 35-year Naval career as a seaman in 1966 and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer prior to receiving his officer's commission in 1975. He completed his Bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland in while on shore duty at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md., and was commissioned an Ensign in February 1976 upon completion of Officer Candidate School at Newport, R.I.During his nine years of enlisted service he served on two ships homeported in San Diego and Norfolk and a shore assignment at VXN-8 and NAS Patuxent River. His officer sea tours included Fire Control Officer, ASW Officer, CIC Officer aboard USS Buchanan (DDG 14); Weapons Officer (Plankowner) and also Operations Officer aboard USS Ticonderoga (CG 47). During his Ticonderoga tour, he fired nearly 100 surface-to-air missiles to complete the most extensive live-fire test and evaluation program in the history of surface combatants ships. The remainder of his sea duty assignments includes Surface AAW Officer on the Staff of Commander Second Fleet and Executive Officer (Plankowner) aboard USS Philippine Sea (CG 58).
His most recent sea tour was as Commanding Officer, USS Ticonderoga, and, as such, was the first Commander to command an AEGIS cruiser. Ashore, he served as Executive Assistant/Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, Combat System Baseline Manager for the AEGIS Program Manager (PMS 400), and Air Defense Training Department Head at the Tactical Training Group, Atlantic Fleet.
Before joining the Program Executive Office, Theater Surface Combatants in June 2001, he served as the DD 21 Program Manager for four years. During his tour as DD 21 Program Manager, he created the DD 21 Acquisition Strategy, established the current industry teaming arrangements, and assigned innovation cells to further conduct research in hull design, signature reduction, aperture development and open system architectures. He essentially moved DD 21 from a concept exploration effort to a full-blown ACAT 1D program.
In June 2001, he was assigned as Director, Theater Air and Missile Defense, in the U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office for Theater Surface Combatants (PEO TSC), where he is responsible for Navy Area and Navy Theater Wide Ballistic Missile Defense, the AEGIS Weapon System, Cooperative Engagement Capability, and associated programs.
In November 2002, Rear Adm. Bush assumed duties as Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Star in lieu of Sixth Award), the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal (Bronze Star in lieu of Second Award), and various campaign and service ribbons.
Updated: 25 November 2002
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