Boensel selected for promotion, new assignment

A native of Cambridge, Mass., Boensel attended the United States Naval Academy where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1978. He underwent flight training at NAS Pensacola, Fla. and was designated a naval flight officer in 1979.

Boensel served as military assistant to the Secretary of Defense in October 1996 and military assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense from January 1997 until May 1999.

He served as executive assistant to Commander, Naval Air Force, United States Pacific Fleet from June 1999 through January 2001 when he assumed command of NAS Jacksonville. It was during that tour he was selected for promotion to the one-star rank of rear admiral lower half.

In July 2004, Boensel returned to Washington, D.C. and became the director of the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Readiness Division until December 2005. He then returned to Jacksonville as Commander, Navy Region Southeast.

Boensel holds post-graduate degrees in business administration from National University, international relations from Salve Regina College and a master of arts degree in national security and strategic studies from United States Naval War Command and Staff College.

He has accumulated more than 3,200 flight hours and more than 600 carrier arrested landings.

His next assignment will be as Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va.