Cdr. Jean Marie Sullivan
BA ‘99
Commander, US Navy
Commander Sullivan is the 22nd Commanding Officer of USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41).
Commander Sullivan attended University of Rochester under the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program and received her commission in 2000.
Cdr Sullivan’s sea tours include USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81) where she served as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Combat Information Center Officer, and Damage Control Assistant. She was Operations Officer in USS FORREST SHERMAN (DDG 98) and completed a deployment as the first U.S. warship to circumnavigate Africa supporting EUCOM and AFRICOM missions. Her second Department Head tour was as the Operations and Plans Officer for DESTROYER SQUADRON 28, where she supported the multinational Joint Warrior Exercise in United Kingdom and Naval Forces Central Command coordinating bilateral and multilateral exercises across the region. She recently completed an Executive Officer tour in USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66) where she guided the ship through a 14 month mid-life overhaul.
Cdr Sullivan’s shore assignments include the Navy’s Washington D.C. Intern Program, Director of Women’s Policy and Chief of Naval Personnel speechwriter, Defense Legislative Fellow for Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD-D), Special Assistant to Chief of Naval Operations, and the Director of the Commander’s Action Group for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa and Commander, NATO Joint Force Command Naples. During this assignment she helped the Commander develop and execute strategic policy supporting U.S. and NATO efforts. Cdr Sullivan also served as a White House Social Aide during President George W. Bush tenure.
She has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from George Washington University.
Her personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (seven awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.