Stevensville – Captain Paul A. Chapla, CEC, USN, assumed command of the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory on June 29, 1990.
A Lorain, OH native, Captain Chapla commenced his military career in 1957 by enlisting in the Naval Reserve. He earned an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and graduated with the class of 1962, receiving his commission as an Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps. He is also a 1972 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. Captain Chapla ‘s recent service history includes assignments as Vice Commander, Pacific Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pearl Harbor, HI, from August 1987 to June 1990; Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy Public Works Center, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, from January 1985 to August 1987; Deputy Chief of Staff for Facilities, Naval Reserve Force, New Orleans, LA, from August 1982 to December 1984; Executive Officer, U.S. Navy Public Works Center, Guam from March 1980 to July 1982; Commanding Officer, Naval Construction Training Center, Port Hueneme, CA from January 1978 to March 1980; and Executive Officer, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SIXTY-TWO, Gulfport, MS from May 1975 to July 1977.
Earlier assignments involving Seabee, public works, construction and facilities management duties included tours with the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA; Officer in Charge of Construction, Republic of Vietnam; Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, DC; Naval Station, Treasure Island, CA; Amphibious Construction Battalion One, Western Pacific Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan; and District Public Works Officer, Ninth Naval District, Great Lakes, IL.
His awards include the Legion of Merit (with gold star), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star), and the Navy Achievement Medal (with gold star).
Captain Chapla is a registered professional civil engineer in the State of California and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers.
Captain Chapla is married to the former Sarah Craig Bullock-Webster of Bristol, England. Their son, BUCN Geoffrey Chapla, served with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four.
A Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 12:00 P.M. at the St. Mary’s Parish in Stevensville. A reception will follow at the Living Centre. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.