Rear Adm. Shannon, a native of San Francisco’s Noe Valley District, graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1981. In December 2011, he assumed duty as deputy commander, Surface Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA-21) with the primary responsibility for life-cycle support of all non-nuclear surface ships. He also holds the significant collateral duty as the executive manager for all Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology and Training, and is the single manager of DoD Counter-Radio controlled improvised explosive device Electronic Warfare (CREW) systems.

Shannon’s operational experience spans across the U.S. 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleets, and seven commands afloat including a logistic ship, patrol hydrofoil, destroyers, frigates, and an Aegis cruiser. He commanded USS Estocin (FFG 15) while in support of Operation UNITAS and Operation Noble Eagle.

He is a member of the Acquisition Corps. He served in the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) from 2002 through 2007 and led a variety of projects and programs including the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile; Naval Integrated Fire Control – Counter Air; and Naval Open Architecture.

Between 2008 and 2012 Shannon commanded the Naval Surface Warfare Center with headquarters in Washington D.C.

Shannon has significant experience ashore on the following staffs: Surface Warfare Officers School, the Joint Staff (J6), and the Navy Secretariat. Education beyond the Naval Academy includes a Master of Science degree (Communication Systems Management) from the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif., and a Master of Arts degree from the College of Naval Warfare, Newport, R.I. Shannon is also a National Security Management Fellow of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y. He is Level III-certified in program management from the Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.