Executive Officer
Cmdr. Russell "Bolter" Kratoville
Cmdr. Russell Kratoville is a native of Riverhead, New York. He was commissioned following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2007 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
At sea, he first served with the “Desert Hawks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, deploying to Manama, Bahrain and aboard the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) as assistant officer-in-charge. As a department head at HSC-22, he served as officer-in-charge of the helicopter detachment onboard USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during Operation Enduring Promise, a combined MH-60S and MQ-8B detachment, and a multi-squadron detachment onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He finished as maintenance officer during HSC-22’s 2020 aviation maintenance inspection, transition to MQ-8B deployments onboard littoral combat ships, and MQ-8C acceptance and safe-to-operate training.
On shore, Kratoville was assigned to HT-28 as an instructor pilot and then served as flag aide to two deputy chiefs of naval operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4). In his most recent tour, he oversaw the Department of Defense’s counterdrug programs in the United States Africa Command area of responsibility and at the Office of Naval Intelligence for the deputy assistant secretary of defense for counternarcotics and stabilization policy.
Kratoville has accumulated more than 2,700 flight hours in six different manned and unmanned aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.