Rear Adm. Epps is a 1990 graduate of Vanderbilt University where he commissioned through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was the recipient of the Frank Hawkins Kenan Award for Excellence and is a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Epps previously commanded Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Weapon Systems Support and the Fleet Logistics Center in Pearl Harbor. Afloat, he served on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
Other assignments include instructor and educational counselor, Navy Supply Corps School; aide and flag lieutenant to Commander, NAVSUP and Chief of Supply Corps; readiness analyst and program objective memorandum development assistant, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N80); action officer, Defense Logistics Agency (J3); director, material budgets, Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia; assistant commander for financial management and comptroller, NAVSUP; chief, strategy and readiness division, Joint Staff (J4); assistant commander for supply operations and logistics policy, NAVSUP; assistant professor, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy; and director, fleet ordnance and supply, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Mr. Kurt J. Wendelken serves as the vice commander and executive director of Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). He assumed these duties in January 2020. Mr. Wendelken leads NAVSUP’s worldwide workforce of over 22,500 military and civilian personnel in strategy, business transformation and execution for Navy end-to-end supply chain integration, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor care services to sustain naval forces worldwide. He became a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2016.
Mr. Wendelken served 26 years on active duty in the United States Navy, as a member of the Supply Corps, retiring at the rank of captain. In his last active duty assignment, Mr. Wendelken was the commanding officer of NAVSUP Business Systems Center. Other assignments included senior-level positions on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Central Command and NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Mr. Wendelken also served on three ships during his naval career: the USS LaSalle (AGF 3), USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS Bataan (LHD 5).
A native of Huntington, NY, he received a bachelor’s degree in international business from Hofstra University and a master’s degree in information technology management from the Naval Postgraduate School. Mr. Wendelken is a graduate of the Executive Program, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College and the U.S. Naval War College, College of Command and Staff. Mr. Wendelken is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.
In Mr. Wendelken’s previous position, he served as the NAVSUP assistant commander for supply chain technology/systems integration and chief information officer. In this position, he served as Navy’s lead for supply chain automation & technology exploitation, systems integration, data analytics and the U.S. Navy’s authoritative expert for supply chain cyber protection and supply chain surety.
Captain James H. Strauss is a native of Hallettsville, Texas. He is a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a Master of Business Administration in Inventory Management from the Naval Postgraduate School where he graduated with distinction. He is an honors graduate of the Naval War College Command and Staff Program and completed executive programs in strategy and leadership at the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of the Maritime Staff Officers Course and the Joint Forces Staff College Joint Combined Warfighting School.
His operational assignments include tours on USS Conolly (DD 979), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), and USS Howard (DDG 83). His most recent sea duty was as supply officer on USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). While on USS George H.W. Bush, he completed a nine-month combat deployment supporting Operations Inherent Resolve and Enduring Freedom against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
His shore assignment include carrier readiness / outfitting, grooming and allowancing officer, Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific/Commander, Naval Air Force; assistant requirements officer, Command Task Force 53/Commander, Logistics Forces; executive assistant to the commanding general, Defense Supply Center Columbus and integrated supplier team chief, Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime; enterprise resource planning implementation officer, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolk; supply officer for Regional Supply Office Oceana and Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic; director of logistics operations, plans, and policy, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC); director, fleet resources and integration, USFFC; executive officer, NAVSUP FLC Norfolk; and commanding officer, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville.
Capt. Strauss assumed duties as NAVSUP Chief of Staff in July 2023.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various service and unit awards. He is also a qualified Naval Aviation Supply Officer, Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer, Joint Qualified Officer and member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.
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