CDR Yilei Liu

Past Executive Officer, USS Halsey (DDG 97)

07 July 2022 Commander Liu, a native of Wuhan, China, graduated from UCLA in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and received his commission through the NROTC program.  He also holds a Master of Science in Systems Engineering with Distinction from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Business Administration from the Johns Hopkins University.

His sea duty assignments include tours aboard USS PRINCETON     (CG 59) as Gunnery Officer, USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) as Reactor Propulsion Division Officer, USS PREBLE (DDG 88) as Operations Officer, and USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) as Reactor Electrical Assistant, deploying six times to the FIFTH and SEVENTH Fleet Areas of Responsibility.  He commanded USS WHIRLWIND (PC 11), forwarded deployed to Manama, Bahrain, where his crew earned consecutive Battle Effectiveness Awards and the CNO Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award.  In June 2022, Commander Liu reported as Executive Officer onboard USS HALSEY (DDG 97) in San Diego.

Ashore, he served as Technical Assistant to the Director, Surface Ship Fluid Systems Division at Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08J), responsible for regulatory oversight of CVN nuclear propulsion program activities.  Additionally, he served as Current Operations Branch Chief and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Current and Integrated Operations (J33) on the Joint Staff, recognized as the 2020 Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year.

Commander Liu’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), and various campaign, service, and unit awards.