Captain Mark Hagerott is Professor of Science, Technology, and Military History at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Previously, he served as military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the Bush administration.

Hagerott’s past experience includes tours on the staff of Commander Fleet Forces Command, Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy, Office of the Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Joint Staff (J8, Joint Requirements Oversight Council Office). He has served on five ships and commanded the USS Kauffmann (FFG 59) in the months leading up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. His earlier operational experience includes counter-narcotic operations at sea and ashore in support of the FBI and Border Patrol.

Hagerott also served as Nuclear Reactor Controls Officer aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser, the USS Texas (CGN 39), which participated in Operation Earnest Will in the final months of the Iran-Iraq War. He served as Combat Systems Officer aboard USS Normandy (CG60) while it served in the Adriatic Sea in support of U.N. sanctions. He also served as Chief Engineer aboard USS Bainbridge (CGN25). Hagerott later served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Cape St. George (CG 71) during testing of the Navy’s advanced data link technology.

Hagerott is a nuclear trained officer. He earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy, including studies at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He received his Ph.D. in the History of Science and Technology, with a minor in military history, at University Maryland, College Park. Hagerott also earned an advanced degree from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
A published author, Hagerott has written or co-authored a number of defense/security related staff studies. He has also served as a White House Fellow in the first Bush administration.