Commanding Officer
Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill
Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts. He is a 1996 graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude; a 2006 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a Master of Arts in Security Studies, with honors; and a 2016 graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power Training program.
Hill was commissioned through the Navy ROTC program and received his wings of gold as a naval flight officer in 1997. Operational tours include Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 126 from 1998-2001, participating in Operations Southern Watch, Desert Fox, And Deliberate Forge; VAW-124 in 2004 as a weapons and tactics instructor; VAW-115 from 2007-2009 as a department head, participating in patrols in the Western Pacific; VAW-124 from 2012-2014 as the executive officer and commanding officer, participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve; the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) from 2017 to 2019 as the executive officer, participating again in Operation Inherent Resolve; and the USS Arlington (LPD 24) as the commanding officer.
Shore assignments include Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) from 2001-2003 as a command and control instructor and editor of the NSAWC Journal; the Joint Staff from 2009-2011 as a threat analyst and editor of the Guardian Antiterrorism Journal; and the staff of the Chief of Naval Operation in 2015 as the special programs requirements officer for the director, air warfare. He received the MacArthur Foundation Award for writing as a student at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2014.
Hill assumed command of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on March 23, 2023.
Unit awards include the 2014 and 2017 Battle “E” Award, the 2014 Frank Akers AEW Excellence Award, and the 2014, 2017 and 2020 CNO Safety “S” Award. He was selected as the E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer of the Year in 2001.
Hill has more than 2,700 hours of flight time primarily in the E-2C Hawkeye. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and one Navy Achievement Medal.