Ken Martin is the Project Manager for R3’s support to the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving (CEODD) Combat Skills contract. R3 has partnered with Stronghold SOF Solutions and XP Services to deliver the new EOD Combat Skills COI specifically designed to instruct newly graduated USN EOD Operators in combat skills to include: Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), basic expeditionary communications, category three small arms qualifications, combat shooting fundamentals for crew served weapons, small unit tactics movement (foot and convoy) / land navigation skills, and Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques/Casting (HRST/CAST) basic qualification, and advance them to the Journeyman level for combat shooting and survivability.

He continues his support to Expeditionary Exploitation Unit One (EXU-1) in Indian Head, Maryland where he specializes in Basic Facility Requirements, Military Construction (MILCON), Training Support, Facilities Support as well as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) Program Management.

Ken retired from the U.S. Navy after twenty-three years of service in 2013 and was piped ashore during a retirement ceremony held at the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida.

Ken began his service as a Navy Diver at Trident Refit Facility Bangor, WA. He served onboard USS Simon Lake in La Madalena, Italy and at Naval Operational Medicine Institute, Pensacola, FL. He was commissioned in 2000 through the Enlisted Commissioning Program where he graduated from the University of Washington and subsequently joined the Special Operations Officer Community.

Post commissioning, Ken continued to serve in a variety of areas including Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Navy Diving, Surface Warfare, and Mine Warfare. He is well versed in Irregular Warfare, Counter Insurgency, Counter IED / Anti-Terrorism, Security Force Assistance, and NATO / Coalition partnership. He completed two combat deployments to Iraq working directly with coalition and Iraqi forces where he earned two Bronze Stars. Specifically, his Platoon was assigned to train the Iraqi Bomb Disposal Forces and provide EOD support to U.S. and Coalition Forces.

During his last tour, Ken served as N5 and N3 Department Head and Executive Officer (Acting) at the Center for EOD and Diving (CEODD). He coordinated the establishment of a PEP instructor position at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center with an exchange Master Diver position in Cartagena, Spain. Ken also headed the initiative to revamp the EOD Officer Warfare qualification. Finally, he led the charge in development of the EOD Leadership Continuum to further professional development for the EOD Community.

Ken’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Washington and a Master of Science degree in Operational and Information Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in the Special Operations for Low Intensity Conflict Department.

Ken is married to his wife Kristal who supported him through his entire career. Last April they celebrated 31 years of marriage. They have three amazing children: Their daughters Jolie (25), Zella (19), and son Braack (16).