Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Russell "Bolter" Kratoville

Cmdr. 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 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 from 2010-2013, deploying with the “Desert Hawks” in Manama, Bahrain and aboard 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 Seahawk helicopter and MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter detachment, and a multi-squadron detachment onboard USS Eisenhower (CVN 69). He finished as Maintenance Officer during HSC-22’s 2020 Aviation Maintenance Inspection, transition to MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial System deployments aboard littoral combat ships, and MQ-8C Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial System acceptance and safe-to-operate training.

On shore, Kratoville was assigned to Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 28, earning the 2015 Instructor Pilot of the Year, and then served as Flag Aide to two Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4).  After Department Head, he oversaw the Department of Defense’s counterdrug programs in the AFRICOM AOR and at the Office of Naval Intelligence for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Stabilization Policy.

Kratoville reported as Executive Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic (HSCWSL) in July 2023, completing Seawolf course 02-23, and is now the current Commanding Officer as of August 2024. He has flown over 2,800 hours in seven different manned and unmanned aircraft. His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.