Shear assumed command of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D.C., and became Chief of Civil Engineers on October 27, 2006. He served in this capacity until he retired in May 2010. Previously, he served as the Director, Ashore Readiness Division (N46) Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and as Deputy Commander, Navy Installations Command.

Shear graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1979 with a degree in Naval Architecture and was commissioned an Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps. In 1984 he received a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. He also holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Shear's first assignment was to the Public Works Department, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia. He then served as Public Works Officer, Naval Hospital Beaufort, South Carolina After graduate school in Colorado, he was assigned as Aide to the Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command. In 1985, Shear joined Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 where he served as Charlie Company Commander and Officer in Charge, Detail Subic Bay.

He then served at the Civil Engineer Corps Officer School as an instructor in the Facilities Management Division. In 1989 he was assigned as Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Puerto Rico Area. In 1993 he graduated with distinction from the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, Rhode Island, and was assigned to U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, as Chief, Engineering Branch. Shear commanded NMCB 1 from 1996 to 1998. NMCB 1 received the Atlantic Fleet "Best of Type" and the Peltier Award in FY-97.

Shear subsequently served as the executive officer at Naval Facilities Engineering Command's Southern Division in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Commander, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Vice Commander, Third Naval Construction Brigade. While with the Seabees, Shear served on a temporary assignment as Commander, U.S. Support Group, East Timor, reporting to U.S. Pacific Command. In his following assignment he served as Deputy Commander for Operations, Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

Shear is a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a member of the Navy Acquisition Professional Community, and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers.

Shear is currently spending his retirement as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. He teaches project and construction management courses and is known for his merciful mentoring. He stands as a valued asset at the Virginia Military Institute. "Ol' Greg" strives for excellent in each of his classes and maintains an Open Door Policy. Cadets trust him.

Shears' awards include:

  This article incorporates public domain material from US Navy Biographies - Rear Admiral Wayne G. Shear, Jr. United States Navy.

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