Columbia Falls man commands Navy cruiser

U.S. Navy Capt. Brian K. Sorenson, formerly of Columbia Falls, assumed command of the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio Nov. 25 during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

Sorenson graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1987 and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991. He earned master’s degrees at the Naval Postgraduate School (1998) and the National War College (2008). 

He first served as the main propulsion assistant and then navigator, administrative officer and deck department head aboard USS Shiloh. Sorenson then served as engineering officer aboard USS Mitscher and USS Monterey. He next served as the Surface Strike and maritime interception officer in George Washington Battle Group and was the executive officer aboard USS Bulkeley. 

In 2010, he took over command of the USS Mitscher and most recently served as the deputy commodore for Destroyer Squadron 26 in Norfolk.

Ashore, Sorenson served as section head for Resource Documents and Fleet Concepts of Operations within the N8 Directorate for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. He served as the Surface Warfare Division Special Projects Officer at Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. His last shore assignment was as the commodore of Afloat Training Group, Atlantic. 

Sorenson is the son of Greg and Sue Sorenson of Columbia Falls.