Lt. Cmdr. Dana Potak
Executive Officer USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41)
29 December 2020
Lt. Cmdr. Potak is a native of Connecticut. He enlisted in the United States Navy in July of 1998.
Following training at Recruit Training Command Orlando, FL, Aviation Electronics Technician “A” School in Pensacola, FL, and F-14D Avionics training in Virginia Beach, he reported to his first command, Fighter Squadron TWO (VF-2) stationed on NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA, in April 1999. During this two year assignment, he completed one deployment to the Arabian Gulf with the USS Constellation Carrier Strike Group.
In July of 2000, he reported to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI. Following graduation he was accepted for admission to the United States Naval Academy. During this tour in March 2001, he was promoted to Second Class Petty Officer. Lt. Cmdr. Potak attended the United Sates Naval Academy in June 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in History and commissioned in May 2005.
Lt. Cmdr. Potak reported to USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG-68) in July 2007. While onboard, he completed one major deployment to C5F, C6F, and C7F areas of responsibility. During this first division officer tour, he served as the R-Division Officer, Communications Officer, EKMS Manager and Engineering Training Officer. In August 2009 he transferred to USS ROBERT G BRADLEY (FFG-49) where he served as the Damage Control Assistant and completed one major deployment to C6F in support of Africa Partnership Station. Lt. Cmdr. Potak’s first shore assignment was to NRD Jacksonville as a Medical Programs Officer Recruiter from August 2011 to February 2013.
Lt. Cmdr. Potak served as the Weapons/Combat Systems Officer onboard USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS (FFG-58) from October 2013 to March 2015 completing one major deployment to C6F. Lt. Cmdr. Potak’s second Department Head tour was onboard USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58) as the Combat Systems Officer bringing the ship from a major maintenance availability through the Basic and Advanced phases of training.
Lt. Cmdr. Potak served as the Operations Officer to Commander Littoral Combat Ship Squadron TWO, Mayport FL from January 2017 to July 2018, where he detached to assume the responsibilities as the Operations Officer to Commander Surface Division TWO ONE from July 2018 to February 2019, the first of three LCS divisions on the eastern coast of the United States.
Lt. Cmdr. Potak is married and they have four children. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Award, and various unit and service awards.