Scott Waddle

Scott Waddle, a native of Austin, Texas, graduated at the top of his class from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. His distinguished graduation was the start of an impressive 20-year career in constructing, maintaining, and operating nuclear-powered submarines, serving aboard Atlantic Fleet Trident Ballistic Missile boats Alabama and Kentucky and Pacific Fleet fast attacks San Francisco and Greeneville.

In June of 1998, after earning a Master of Science degree from the National Defense University in Washington D.C., Waddle was hand-picked from a highly competitive field of 250 naval officers to command a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine, the USS Greeneville. In this role, he successfully managed a 140-man crew. In March of 1999, Waddle became the Commanding Officer of the Greeneville in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

On the fateful day of February 9, 2001, Commander Waddle's life was forever changed when he gave the order to perform an emergency surface maneuver that inadvertently caused the 9,000-ton submarine to collide with the Ehime Maru, a 500-ton Japanese fishing vessel, killing nine people on board. Against the advice of his attorney and the Navy's direction, Waddle took responsibility for the accident. In October of 2001, he was honorably discharged from the Navy and retired from active duty with the rank of commander.

Following his naval career, Waddle turned his experience into valuable lessons, publishing a book called "The Right Thing."

Commander Waddle currently resides in Washington with his wife, Jill, and daughter, Ashley.