Mr. Bruce Nolan, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, found his passion to serve and learned to lead as an NJROTC cadet at Brother Martin High School. He earned a Navy ROTC scholarship while at the University of Mississippi and commissioned into the Navy as an Ensign in 1994. He designated as a Naval Aviator in 1997. He holds a Master of Science in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Mr. Nolan reported to his first command flying the MH-53E Sea Stallion at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FOUR (HC-4) in Sigonella, Italy, where he deployed throughout Europe and the Middle East supporting fleet logistics operations. He also served as the Air Officer and Safety Officer on the USS Denver (LPD-9), supporting Oil Platform security in the Arbian Gulf and anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. His Department Head and Officer in Charge tour brought him to the other side of the world in Guam, flying the MH-60S Seahawk at Anderson Air Force Base with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWENTY-FIVE (HSC-25). He led a two aircraft detachment on the USNS Mercy for a Humanitarian Aid mission providing medical transport for underserved regions in Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Timor L’Este. He also deployed to Udari Air Field in Kuwait with the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment (NAAD) flying medical services in Kuwait and southern Iraq. His final operational tour was as the Deputy Commander for Detention Facilities at Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay responsible for the safety and security operations of detainees from the Global War on Terror. He oversaw security for the start of military commissions for the alleged September 11 hijackers.

Mr. Nolan served as a flight instructor on the MH-60S at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HSC-3). He also completed tours in Defense Acquisitions as the Integrated Product Team Lead for Air Vehicle for H-60 Multi-Missions Helicopters Program Office (PMA-299) in Patuxent River, Maryland, and as the Assistant Program Manager for Engineering for Tactical Data Links at the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Program Office for Space and Warfare Systems (now Naval Information Warfare Systems Command) in San Diego, California.

Upon retiring from the Navy as a Commander in 2014, he returned to Brother Martin High School’s NJROTC unit as the Senior Naval Science Instructor. During his time, he directly mentored 100 cadets per year through classroom instruction, field trips, extracurricular activities, and post high school counselling. He started the school’s CyberPatriot team and an FAA Part 107 drone certification program. During the summers, he actively participated in Summer Leadership Training camps every year, progressing from an academics instructor up to Director of Area 16 Summer Leadership Camps. Mr. Nolan joined Naval Service Training Command in May 2024 as the Director of Citizenship Development NJROTC Program to continue his desire to provide opportunities for cadet to grow to the leaders for the future of our country.
 

Last Updated: 10 June 2024