Commander Waldhauser is a Surface Warfare Officer and has served in afloat assignments as Damage Control Assistant and Chief Engineer onboard the USS ADROIT (MSO-509), Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Combat Information Center Officer onboard the USS SAN JACINTO (CG 56), Combat Systems Officer onboard the USS THORN (DD-988) and Executive Officer onboard the USS BOONE (FFG-28). He holds the Navy sub-specialty code for International Affairs - Strategic Planning and Organizations and Negotiations.

Commander Waldhauser's shore assignments include as a student at the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned his Masters Degree in National Security Affairs, Surface Warfare Instructor for the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School and Division Head for the Sea Strike Warfare Innovation Development Team at the Navy Warfare Development Command.

Prior to his assignment as the Associate Professor of Naval Science at the University of Missouri, Commander Waldhauser served as the Chief, Information Assurance Branch, for the Commander, United States Strategic Command. In this assignment he was responsible for ensuring the security of the Command's computer networks as well as Department of Defense computer networks and systems including those responsible for Network Enabled Command Capability, Nuclear Command and Control, Space Systems and Ballistic Missile Defense.