Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

LCDR Collin C. Sullivan, a native of San Diego, California, enlisted in the Navy on September 11, 1989. In 1993, after completing Naval Nuclear Propulsion training as Machinist Mate with an additional qualification as an Engineering Laboratory Technician and a subsequent instructor tour the Navy selected him for the highly competitive Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Under the auspices of NECP, LCDR Sullivan graduated from the University of Washington in June 1996 earning a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in three years of schooling. He received his commission upon completion of Naval Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida on December 6, 1996. After graduating from Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) as a Distinguished Naval Graduate and Top Engineering Graduate in August 1997, the Navy assigned then ENS Sullivan to the USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) homeported out of Yokosuka, Japan, as the First Lieutenant. Aboard the BUNKER HILL he earned his designation as a Surface Warfare Officer. Upon completion of his first seagoing tour, then LTJG Sullivan returned to the nuclear propulsion training pipeline for qualifications for assignment as a Nuclear Propulsion Plant Watch Officer graduating at the top of his class from Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston, South Carolina.

Then LTJG Sullivan was subsequently assigned to the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) homeported out of Norfolk, Virginia in March 2000 where he served as the Reactor Laboratory Division Officer and Radiological Controls Officer. In July 2002, after returning from the opening phases of Operation Enduring Freedom and earning a designation as a Nuclear Engineering Officer, then LT Sullivan was selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. There he completed his graduate education in National Security Affairs with an emphasis on East Asia and Phase I of his Joint Professional Military Education in December 2003.

After completing the SWOS Department Head School and Aegis Systems training then LT Sullivan returned to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces out of Yokosuka, Japan. There he served as the Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard the USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG 62) and, after an on station hull swap, aboard USS SHILOH (CG 67) until February 2007. LCDR Sullivan continued his service in the Western Pacific with tours as Operations Officer aboard the USS COWPENS (CG 63) until September 2008 and as the North East Asia Policy and Exercise Officer at SEVENTH Fleet until September 2009.

LCDR Sullivan’s decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy Achievement Medal with gold star, and various other personal, campaign, and unit awards.