CDR Travis A. Montplaisir

Past Commanding Officer, USS Howard (DDG 83)

07 September 2021 CDR Montplaisir is a native of Columbia, Missouri and enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1993. He reported to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes the following year.  He was commissioned in 2003 via the Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. 

His sea duty assignments include USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) as an enlisted Sailor, Combat Information Center Officer and First Lieutenant in USS TIGONDEROGA (CG 47), Auxiliaries Officer in USS DE WERT (FFG 45), Engineer Officer in USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80), Commanding Officer in USS SIROCCO (PC 6), and Executive Officer USS BARRY (DDG 52).

His shore duty assignments include the staffs of United States Naval Forces Central Command/United States 5th Fleet, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit Michigan, Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN embarking in USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), and Strategic Assessments Division in United States Indo-Pacific Command.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia College. 

His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), the Good Conduct Medal, and various unit and service decorations.