CDR Christopher Follin 
Commanding Officer
Commander Chris Follin enlisted under the advanced electronics field in 1987. He served five years onboard USS BIRMINGHAM (SSN 695) as a Second Class Electronics Technician and Navy Diver. While attached to the Chief of Naval Operations Special Project, Submarine Surveillance Equipment Program and ESM Certification team, he was one of the first 50 Sailors selected for Admiral Boorda's Seaman to Admiral Program.
After receiving his commission at Officer Candidate School and completing Surface Warfare Division Officer Course in 1996, he report to USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG 62) where he served as the Main Propulsion Division Officer and Strike Officer and earned the SURFPAC ship handler of the year award. In June 1998, Commander Follin reported to Mine Countermeasures Rotational Crew Bravo embarked onboard USS PIONEER (MCM 9) as the Operations Officer deploying to the Arabian Gulf in USS ARDENT (MCM 12).
While attached to the Naval ROTC unit in Jacksonville, Florida from December 1999 to December 2002, he earned a Bachelor of Science in History and a Master's Degree in Business.
Returning to Sea Duty for his Department Head tours, onboard USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG 81), Commander Follin served as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer. During his tour, WINSTON S. CHURCHILL earned the Battle Efficiency award and completed a successful Arabian Gulf Deployment. While with the NASSAU ESG conducting Maritime Security Operations in the Indian Ocean, WINSTON S. CHURCHILL rescued 16 Indian crewman through their apprehension of 10 Somali pirates onboard M/V SAFIN AL BISARAT.
Remaining on Sea Duty, Commander Follin reported to Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic from October 2006 to September 2008 as the Assistant Maritime Operations Officer responsible for designing maritime composite unit training exercises for Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Group certifications.
His most recent shore assignment was to U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint War-fighting Center, responsible for enabling the creation of invaluable Joint Training solutions that supported all Uniformed Services, Combatant Commands, Multi-National Partners, and U.S. Inter-agency and Non-governmental agencies.
Commander Follin was selected for the XO/CO fleet up program and has served as Executive Officer aboard the USS SIMPSON (FFG-56) from April of 2011 to November 2012, when he assumed Command of SIMPSON on 16 November.
Commander Follin's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (3), and the Navy Achievement Medal (4), Good Conduct Award, and various campaign and unit decorations.