Rear Admiral(L) Combs reported to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWARSYSCOM) in March 1995. He assumed his current duties as Chief Engineer for SPAWARSYSCOM in March 1996. In this assignment, he is responsible for the total platform integration of command, control, communication, computers and intelligence (C4I) and surveillance systems for the Navy, Marine Corps and selected joint programs. From March 1995 to March 1996, Rear Admiral(L) Combs served as the Program Director for C4I Systems.

Prior to reporting to SPAWARSYSCOM, Rear Admiral(L) Combs served as Program Manager for the SEAWOLF Attack Submarine Program from 1992 to 1995. There, he was responsible for the design, development and construction of the Navy's most technologically advanced submarine. This appointment was a direct result of his various assignments within the SEAWOLF program since 1985. From 1985-1088, he served as Program Manager for the SEAWOLF's Large Scale Vehicle (LSV), an autonomous submarine; from 1988-1990, he was the Assistant Program Manager for Design and Construction of the SEAWOLF; from 1990-1992 he served as the Program Manager's representative and Project Officer for construction of the lead SEAWOLF at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair at Groton, Connecticut.

Rear Admiral(L) Combs was the Assistant Project Officer for the construction of LOS ANGELES (SSN 688) class submarines at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair in Newport News, Virginia, from 1981-1983. He was assigned to Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 1977-1981. At Norfolk, he served in several key positions including: Surface and Submarine Ship Superintendent, Surface and Submarine Ship Type Deck Officer and backup Docking Officer. During this tour, Rear Admiral(L) Combs completed his qualifications in submarines (Engineering Duty).

Rear Admiral(L) Combs has had three at sea assignments: Repair Officer onboard USS PROTEUS (AS-19) (1983-1985); Assistant Boilers Officer in USS CORAL SEA (CVN-43) (1971-1974); and onboard USS WOODROW WILSON (SSBN) Gold (1980) for Engineering Duty Officer qualifications.

An Alumnus of Texas City High School in Texas, Rear Admiral(L) Combs graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1971 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. From 1974-1977, he attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Naval Engineer professional degree (Naval Architecture). He also attended the Program Manager's Course at the Defense Systems Management College and the Program for Executives at Carnegie Mellon University. Some of his more noted awards include Outstanding Senior Engineer, from Prairie View A&M University and Outstanding Student Engineer of the Year from the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. In 1990, Rear Admiral(L) Combs was nationally recognized as the Outstanding Engineer of the Year for Technical Excellence by Career Communications Group. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars, the Navy "E" Ribbon with second Battle "E", the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Rear Admiral(L) Combs lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, with is wife, the former Iris Parks of Bay City, Texas, and daughters, Melany and Natalie.