Captain “Commodore” James R. Poplar III, USN (ret)

             Ros Poplar, USN, a native of Havre de Grace, Maryland, and son of a World War II submariner, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1974.  He served in USS LEAHY (DLG 16) as Gunnery Officer, ASW Officer, and Navigator, and participated in the historic US/USSR ship exchange visit (Leningrad) in 1975.  Upon completion of this initial sea tour, he reported to Vanderbilt University as an NROTC Instructor.  After receiving a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management, Captain Poplar reported as the pre-commissioning Operations Officer in USS LEWIS B PULLER (FFG 23). 

            He then served as First Lieutenant in USS ANCHORAGE (LSD 36).  Both ships were Battle "E" winners, and ANCHORAGE received the prestigious Arleigh Burke Award during his assignment.  Upon completion of department head tours, he was selected as Flag Secretary for Commander Training Command, U. S. Pacific Fleet.  He then served as Executive Officer in USS “The Warship” WADDELL (DDG 24) and deployed with Battle Group "Bravo" to the North Arabian Gulf.  He subsequently attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks and upon graduation served with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  During Operation DESERT STORM he was a member of the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) which conducted missions directed by the National Command Authority.  During his JSOC tour he completed U.S. Army basic airborne training at the age of 39 and subsequently qualified as a navy parachutist while jumping from a variety of high-performance special operations aircraft. 

           Captain Poplar assumed command of USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) in January 1993 off Green Beach, Mogadishu, Somalia.  During his command, RUSHMORE earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Safety Award, the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific, Self Sufficient Ship Award, the Commander, Naval Base San Diego, Community Service Award, and the Battle “E.” RUSHMORE deployed twice (her second deployment on three weeks’ notice) and participated in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT HOPE, DISTANT RUNNER, and VIGILANT WARRIOR.  Captain Poplar was subsequently assigned on the OPNAV staff as Branch Head for Warfare Policy (N512) where he worked numerous Joint and Service Policy issues.

              He assumed command of Joint Command ship USS MOUNT WHITNEY (JCC/LCC 20), command ship for Commander Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic in July 1997 and prepared her for the ship’s first deployment in twenty-eight years and permanent change of home port from Norfolk to Gaeta.  He subsequently commanded Amphibious Squadron Four/Commander Task Force 61 consisting of USS Saipan, USS Ashland, and USS Austin and deployed to the Mediterranean. Upon completion of his PHIBRON tour he was assigned as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Joint Matters.  Captain Poplar then served as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations & Environment). His last active-duty assignment was at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) National Defense University where he served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair, and Professor of Strategy and Logistics.

             His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and Navy Achievement Medal (three awards). 

           Upon transitioning from active duty in 2004, he joined the consulting firm of Booz Allen Hamilton and supported the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Navy leading multi-functional  teams on site for 10 years as a Lead Associate and then served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon as a GS-15 (8)  for another six years as the Deputy Branch Head for Shipbuilding and Conversion (SCN).

            Upon “retiring” in the Shenandoah Valley, he has become extremely active in the community serving on the Virgina Veterans Services Foundation Board of Trustees, President of the New Market Rotary (3 years), President of the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Shenandoah County Community Resources for Education and Wellness (CREW) Board of Directors, Vietnam Veterans of America, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and membership in numerous Valley historical societies. He has also served as Junior Warden for the Saint Andrews Episcopal Church and as Trustee for the historic Union Church in Mount Jackson VA. He is a noted author and has had numerous professional articles and opinion pieces published in such diverse periodicals as the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Naval History Magazine, the Naval Historical Foundation, The Sons of the American Revolution magazine, the Richmond Times Dispatch, and other regional newspapers.

            He and his wife Joanne reside in an historic farm home (circa 1749) once owned by CPT Jacob Holman of COL Peter Muhlenberg’s 8th Virginia Regiment and are blessed with eleven grandchildren.