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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)

CDR Janice A. Pollard, USN
Commanding Officer

At sea, her first assignment was aboard USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) as Communications Officer. During this tour, she deployed to the Arabian Gulf as part of ATF WEST in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

During her next sea tour, as Assistant Operations Officer at MINE COUNTERMEASURES SQUADRON THREE, she participated in several PANAMAX exercises and the staff was embarked on USS BATAAN (LHD 5) as part of JOINT TASK FORCE KATRINA. COMCMRON THREE was tasked with surveying damage both above and below the surface to the oil platforms that comprise Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP).

Upon completion of Department Head School in 2009, she served as the Combat Systems Officer in USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17). While onboard, she implemented and oversaw the most extensive Combat Systems Light Off in LPD 17 class history following the ship’s extended emergent availability. The successful Sea Trails began a period that culminated with SAN ANTONIO being awarded the “Battle E” and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award.

In June 2011, she reported aboard COMDESRON TWO SIX as the Combat Systems Officer and simultaneously filled the role as Force Protection Officer due to IA requirements. She deployed for two JOINT WARRIOR exercises and served as liaison officer to the Royal Navy during FORREST SHERMAN’s Staff Covered Weapons Training.

In 2012, she volunteered to serve as Executive Officer of MCM Crew OLYMPIAN, a crew of 84 Individual Augmentee Sailors from more than 50 separate commands across the Fleet. They completed deployment certifications while in San Diego and deployed to FIFTH FLEET in May 2013 as a cohesive team of warfighters. Upon completion of this one year IA tour in December 2013, she reported onboard USS ARDENT as Crew CONSTANT’s Executive Officer, and completed the transition to FDNF Bahrain Permanent Crew as Executive Officer onboard USS SENTRY. SENTRY achieved operational success during International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2014 as the lead ship across more than 40 participating Nations in successful exercise mine finds. Her tour as XO culminated with unprecedented success during INSURV in FEB 2015, with SENTRY achieving an IFOM score of .917, the highest ever for an MCM. She commanded SENTRY from February 2015 to December 2015 and was Executive Officer of the COMSTOCK from January 2018 to September 2018.

Ashore, Commander Pollard served as a Seamanship and Navigation Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. While there, she completed graduate study through the Naval War College’s Fleet Seminar Program and was awarded a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies with an emphasis in Insurgency and Terrorism.

Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (7 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), and various unit and service awards.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo