Captain Ros Poplar US Navy (Retired)

During 30 years as a surface warfare officer “Commodore” Ros Poplar commanded two ships and an amphibious squadron. He is as both Vietnam era veteran and veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Ashore he has served on the Joint Staff, the Secretary of the Navy Staff, and the Chief of Naval Operations Staff. Ros is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, Vanderbilt University, the Armed Forces Staff College, the U.S. Army War College and has taught at both Vanderbilt University and the National Defense University. Captain Poplar was awarded numerous personal awards to include the Defense Superior Service Medal and four awards of the Legion of Merit, numerous campaign service medals, and he is a qualified Navy parachutist earning his gold Navy jump wings at the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is also a 9/11 survivor.

Upon “retiring” from the United States Navy, the private sector, and the Civil Service he has served as the President of the New Market Rotary (3 years), President of the Fort Harrison Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (2 years) and the Shenandoah County Community Resources for Education and Wellness (CREW) Board of Director. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Virgina Veteran Services Foundation which provides vital support Commonwealth Veterans and their families.

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 log farm home (circa 1749) once owned by CPT Jacob Holman of COL Peter Muhlenberg’s 8th Virginia Regiment and are blessed with eleven grandchildren.

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