This month, the incoming officer of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CVN-79), Capt. Colin Day, visited Capitol Hill as part of the Stennis Center for Public Service’s Prospective Commanding Officer Program. The USS JOHN F. KENNEDY is the U.S. Navy’s second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier.

Capt. Colin Day

Capt. Colin Day is from Oak Harbor, Washington. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the United States Naval Academy and an executive master’s degree in business administration from the Naval Post Graduate School. Capt. Day was commissioned at the United States Naval Academy in 1996 and was designated a Naval Aviator in March 1999. His previous assignments at sea include Fighter Squadron/Strike Fighter Squadron FOUR ONE, Strike Fighter Squadrons TWO TWO and ONE ONE FIVE, command of Strike Fighter Squadron NINE SEVEN, and Executive Officer of USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). His assignments ashore include various naval aviation training units, Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO ONE, Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific, NATO Communication and Information Services Agency Headquarters, Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, and Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston. He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and has accumulated 3,500 flight hours and 860 arrested landings in the F-14 Tomcat and FA-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, completing numerous deployments and participating in combat operations in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Biographical source: www.navsource.org

Prospective Commanding Officer Program

The purpose of the Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) Program is to foster connections between members of Congress, senior-level staff, and incoming prospective commanding officers of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The PCO program takes place during officers’ final steps before assuming command and helps to develop an understanding of national security issues and congressional interests between civilian and congressional leaders and main fleet units. The PCO program also helps improve civil-military relations by facilitating a periodic luncheon or dinner on Capitol Hill for PCOs.