Retired Capt. Neil C. Stubits, a 1978 graduate of Lehighton High School, is the speaker at the Lehighton United Veterans Organization program Tuesday.

He received his commission through the officer candidate program in 1983 after graduating from Lehigh University in 1982 with a degree in chemical engineering.

Stubits entered the Strategic Weapons Officer community, and in 1984 reported to the submarine USS James K. Polk, as assistant weapons officer and weapons officer.

Stubits attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a mechanical engineers degree. He was accepted into the engineering duty officer program.

He served at Charleston Naval Shipyard; Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair in Groton, Connecticut, and Naval Submarine Support Facility. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in 1988.

In 2006, Stubits took command of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland, a command with more than 1,250 personnel supporting explosive and energetic material programs. Stubits was recognized by the National Safety Council in 2009 as a Top Ten CEO.

He retired after 27 years of active duty in February 2010 and went to Patrona Corp., a defense contractor that supports submarine programs. He has held positions of chief operating officer, vice president of Operations and vice president of Business Development. He is now a part-time senior financial analyst for the firm.

Stubits returned to Lehighton with his wife, Terri, in 2016. They have been married for 32 years.