Rear Admiral Handley assumed command of the 1st Naval Construction Division Oct. 23, 2009. He previously served as vice commander Navy Installations Command and director of Shore Readiness for deputy chief of naval operations (Logistics) in Washington DC.

Handley was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training program at Villanova University in 1981 where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a Masters of Engineering (Construction) in 1986 from Stanford University, and attended the University of Michigan’s Executive Management Program in 2002.

Handley’s early duty assignments include Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, Port Hueneme, Calif.; activity civil engineer for the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.; Western Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), as accessions officer, assistant acquisition officer and head of Environmental Contracts.

In June 1989, Handley attended the Defense Language School in preparation for his assignment as resident officer in charge of construction (ROICC), Vicenza, Italy. In March 1993, Handley reported to ROICC MIDPAC overseeing construction and contract management throughout the MIDPAC region. Reporting to the Pentagon in May 1996, Handley served as the head, Real Property Maintenance and Energy Branch for the deputy chief of naval operations (Logistics). He was then assigned as executive assistant to the commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of Civil Engineers.

Returning to the Seabees in 1999, Handley was the commanding officer of NMCB 5, Port Hueneme, Calif. NMCB 5 received both the Pacific Fleet Battle “E” and the Peltier Award for outstanding military engineering services. He then served as executive officer of the Navy Public Works Center, San Diego from August 2001 to May 2003. From May 2003 to June 2005, he served as the commodore of the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment homeported in Gulfport, Miss. During this tour, he deployed as a regimental element with the First Marine Expeditionary Force to Fallujah, Iraq, for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He took command of NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., and became regional engineer for commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic June 3, 2005.

Handley’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal. He is designated as a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, a member of the Defense Acquisition Professional Community, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Washington.