Commanding Officer
Capt. David-Tavis Pollard
Capt. Pollard is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated and commissioned from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering in 1996. He holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership through the Regent University School of Global Leadership. He is also is a graduate of the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program and the Navy Nuclear Power School.
He commanded USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in support of U.S. 6th Fleet’s Theater Security Cooperation plan, as well as Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 forward deployed in Atsugi, Japan. Other sea duty assignments include VFA-34, VFA-136, VFA-192, and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the Executive Officer.
Ashore, he served as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor at the Strike Fighter Weapons School, at U.S. Joint Forces Command, project lead at the Joint Staff, and as the Naval Financial Analyst/Programmer for the President’s Budget in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
He assumed the duties as the commanding officer of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in May 2022 and led the team through a historic 8-month deployment supporting our Allies and partners in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe –U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations.
During this deployment, the ship earned multiple awards to include the 2022 Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Battle “E” Effectiveness Award, Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award, the Vice Adm. Bulkeley Award, 2022 Navy Public Affairs Awards including the Navy Media Excellence Award for best overall products in the Fleet, and the 2022 Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Award (Blue “H”).
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two), the Navy Commendation Medal (three), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two), and various campaign and unit awards to include the Battle “E” for CVN 77, CVN 76, and VFA-195. He is a qualified naval aviator with more than 3,000 hours in the F/A-18C/E, and he has accumulated 1,080 carrier arrested landings.