Interim Commanding Officer
Capt. Chris Hill
Captain 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; 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 in Operation Inherent Resolve; the USS Arlington (LPD 24) as the commanding officer; and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) from 2023 to 2025 as the commanding officer, participating in combat operations in the Red Sea to include Operations Prosperity Guardian, Yukon Lightening, and Inherent Resolve. His team earned the Combat Action Ribbon and a Navy Unit Commendation.
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 Operations 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 Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on February 20, 2025 and participated in combat in the Red Sea in support of Operation Rough Rider.
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 2,900 hours of flight time primarily in the E-2C Hawkeye. His awards include two Legion of Merit Medals (one with Combat “C” device), a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals, and various other individual and unit citations.