As lifelong men for others, countless Jesuit alumni have taken up careers of selfless public service. One such Blue Jay, Capt. Christopher Matassa ’98, has been named the 41st Commanding Officer of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, in West Bethesda, Maryland. Matassa assumed command during a ceremony on July 17, 2024, succeeding Capt. Matthew Tardy.

Matassa, a decorated naval officer with extensive experience in the Navy’s ship programs, expressed his enthusiasm for his new role at one of the Navy’s premier research and development centers. At Jesuit, Matassa was a varsity football player and a member of the Société Honoraire De Français and the National Honor Society.

“I’m grateful and humbled by this opportunity,” Matassa said. “The facilities and technologies here are so unique, truly unlike anything in the world. I am excited to take command at Carderock, and I cannot wait to advance American sea models at a critical time for our national security.”

Before assuming his new post, Matassa worked at the Pentagon in the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare Division (OPNAV N96) as a Future Ships Requirement Officer and most recently served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs. He brings with him a wealth of leadership experience, which will guide him as he leads Carderock in its mission to support the U.S. Navy’s research and development efforts in ship design and naval architecture.

Carderock is a critical hub for naval innovation, known for its state-of-the-art facilities, including the David Taylor Model Basin and the Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin. The division’s work in platform integrity, ship signatures, and naval architecture plays a crucial role in developing next-generation surface and underwater vessels for the U.S. fleet.

Alongside the accomplishments of innumerable other alumni past and present, Matassa’s appointment is a source of pride for Jesuit, as his career reflects a life lived as a man for others beginning during his student years at Carrollton & Banks.