CDR Meghan L. Bodnar

Past Commanding Officer, USS Gridley (DDG 101)

09 June 2021 A native of Schenectady, New York, Commander Meghan Bodnar graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Oceanography, minoring in Spanish.

Afloat, Commander Bodnar completed her division officer tours in the amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) as the Electronic Warfare Officer and, after completing Nuclear Power Training at Charleston, South Carolina and Ballston Spa, New York, in PCU GEORGE H W BUSH (CVN 77) as the Reactor Electrical Division Officer. She deployed with BONHOMME RICHARD to the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet Areas of Operation (AOR) from 2004-2005 in support of the Global War on Terror. She completed her department head tours in the destroyer USS DECATUR (DDG 73) as the Operations Officer and USS GEORGE H W BUSH (CVN 77) as the Chemistry Radiological Assistant. Aboard USS DECATUR she completed an availability and complete training cycle. She deployed with USS GEORGE H W BUSH from February 2014-November 2014 to the SIXTH and FIFTH Fleet AORs. Most recently, she served as Executive Officer in USS GRIDLEY (DDG 101) from December 2019 – April 2021.

Ashore, Commander Bodnar earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard University in May 2010 through the SWO MBA program. She served on the staff of the Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific in the Nuclear Propulsion (N9) office from July 2012-August 2013. From November 2015 to January 2017, she served as the Flag Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations. Before reporting to USS GRIDLEY, she served as the Surface Nuclear Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Personnel in Arlington, VA.

Commander Bodnar’s awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Battle “E” award, and multiple unit and service awards. Commander Bodnar reported as the Commanding Officer to USS GRIDLEY (DDG 101) homeported in Everett, Washington in June 2021.