CDR Tiana Tafua

Past Executive Officer, USS San Diego (LPD 22)

06 July 2021 Commander Tafua hails from Ridgefield, Washington, and enlisted in 1996 as a Cryptologic Technician (Collection). In 2001 she was selected for the Seaman to Admiral 21 (STA 21) program. She earned her commission in 2005 as a Surface Warfare officer upon graduation from the University of Washington, and has continued to serve in a variety of sea and shore assignments.
 
CDR Tafua’s sea tours include USS BOXER (LHD 4), USS HIGGINS (DDG 76) as the Electrical Officer and Ordnance Officer, USS McCLUSKY (FFG 41) as Navigator, USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) as Operations Officer, and USS ESSEX (LHD 2) as the 3M Officer. During her sea tours she deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and Southern Command counter-drug operations.
 
Ashore, she served as part of the Personnel Exchange Program in Ottawa, Canada, during which she was selected for STA 21. She completed tours as a NROTC Instructor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Consortium, and at the Naval War College with the Halsey Alfa Research Group. Her staff tours include Naval Beach Group ONE as N8, Material Readiness Officer, OPNAV N959 Training, and Director Navy Staff, Executive Forums.
 
CDR Tafua is currently assigned to USS SAN DIEGO (LPD 22) as the Executive Officer.
 
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Washington, an Executive Master of Leadership degree from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
 
Her personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold stars) and Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold stars) as well as multiple unit and service awards.