Cmdr. Anthony LaVopa
Executive Officer, USS BULKELEY (DDG 84)
27 June 2025
Commander LaVopa, a native of Portland, ME, graduated from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and from Virginia Tech in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, with a Minor in Leadership and commissioned through the Naval ROTC program.
He graduated from Ohio University in 2015 with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and from the U.S. Naval War College in 2024 with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, as a Halsey Alfa Advanced Research Program Fellow.
At sea, he served as Electrical Officer and Asst. Chief Engineer aboard USS PORTER (DDG 78) before fleeting up as Navigator, deploying twice throughout the 5th Fleet AOR; then as the Plankowner Weapons and Combat Systems Officer onboard USS ZUMWALT (DDG 1000), commissioned a first in class ship and began the combat systems activation. Subsequently, served as the Combat Systems Officer aboard USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) deploying to the 5th and 6th Fleet AORs. During his time aboard LTG, he also served as the lead Integrated Air and Missile Defense liaison to Commander Carrier Strike Group Twelve. His first command tour was Commanding Officer, USS HURRICANE (PC 3) homeported in Manama, Bahrain.
Ashore, he was a Plankowner instructor at NROTC Unit Rutgers. During his time there, he also worked to bring the NROTC Program back to Princeton University as a cross-town affiliated school. He also served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) working for the Director of Surface Warfare (N96) as the DDG 1000 Requirements Officer.
Commander LaVopa’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and various unit and service awards.
Commander LaVopa is currently the Executive Officer for USS BULKELEY (DDG 84) homeported in Rota, Spain.