Lieutenant Junior Grade Bitner, a native of Fremont, CA, enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and shipped off to boot camp in Great Lakes, IL shortly after his graduation from American High School.

Bitner attended basic submarine school and the Fire Control Technician training pipeline in Groton, CT from Oct 1996 until April 1998. Upon completion of his training, Bitner transferred to Pearl Harbor, HI where he served on board the USS Chicago (SSN-721) from April 1998 until July 2002. For the last 18 months of his tenure on board, then FT2(SS/DV) Bitner served as the leading Petty Officer of Fire Control and Dive divisions. He was also an in-port duty section leader for over 24 months.

After his release from active duty, Steven remained a drilling member of the Navy Reserves while he began the pursuit of his bachelor's degree in San Francisco, CA. After his freshman year, he transferred to Texas State University - San Marcos where graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Computer Science. He was accepted to The University of Texas at Dallas for graduate school in Computer Science in 2006.

After receiving his Master's Degree in Computer Science in 2008, Steven applied for a direct commission as an Information Professional in the Navy reserves and received his commission in September 2009. LTJG Bitner was subsequently attached to SPAWAR 1010 in Austin, TX in a drill pay status.

In May, 2010, LTJG Bitner transferred to NR AFRICOM HQ DET 108 where he works in J64, as a SATCOM officer. He also maintains the unit's web portal as well as SIPR portal for the J64 directorate in Stuttgart, Germany. He has served as the unit security manager since 2010.

LTJG Bitner received his Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science in August 2010 and began working as an Operations Research software simulation researcher at the Army's Training and Doctrine Analysis Center in Fort Leavenworth, KS. His PhD dissertation title is "Proximity Problems in Two and Three Dimensional Euclidean Space."

LTJG Bitner has received the following awards and recognitions: Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct Medal (2), Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.