A native of Jenny Lind, California, Capt. Sean "Starfish" Newby holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, and two Master of Arts degrees in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs from the Naval War College. He is also a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Air Operations Command and Control Course, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School, Advanced Mission Commander Course, and the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School.

At sea, Capt. Newby completed his division officer tour with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, serving as the legal officer, schedules officer, and line division officer and completed two Western Pacific deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). He completed his training officer tour with VAW-113 aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), where the squadron earned the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Battle “E” Award. From VAW-113 he volunteered for a “boots on the ground” individual augmentation to Regional Command-East in Afghanistan. Capt. Newby completed his department head tour with VAW-112, aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), where he served as safety officer and maintenance officer. Capt. Newby also served as operations officer aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), where he led a successful Western Pacific deployment with the “Airwing of the Future.”

Ashore, Capt. Newby served at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, in Fallon, Nevada, as a weapons and tactics instructor. He completed his joint tour at U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served as the electronic warfare team lead and space/counterspace branch chief in the intelligence directorate (J2) Joint Intelligence Operations Center. After screening for command, Capt. Newby served as the executive officer and commanding officer of Training Squadron (VT) 4 in Pensacola, Florida. Capt. Newby also served as a Navy liaison at the Air Force’s 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Capt. Newby’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with two Gold Stars) as well as multiple unit and service awards.
 

Last Updated: 18 August 2025