Lieut. Commander Alexander B. Baynes of the United States Navy, currently assigned to the Undersea Systems Program Office at the Washington Navy Yard, was awarded the degree of doctor of philosophy in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He was also presented with The Naval Sea Systems Command Award For Excellence In Combat Systems.

He is a 2000 graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and is the son of Leslie and Judith Baynes of Edgartown.