Julie Dunnigan ‘98

United States Naval Academy, BS ‘02

Bio

Following her graduation from the Naval Academy, Julie went to Pensacola, FL, for flight training.  She  was winged a Naval Aviator in the summer of 2004.  She selected helicopters and moved to San Diego to learn how to fly the SH-60F Seahawk.  She was assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 (HS-11) in Jacksonville, FL in 2005.

While serving at HS-11, Julie deployed on the USS Enterprise in 2006 to the Mediterranean, Western Pacific, and Persian Gulf, and in 2007 to the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.   As a helicopter pilot in HS-11 she was awarded the Air Medal from the President of the United States for providing aerial armed reconnaissance in the territorial waters of Iraq.

After her time in HS-11 LT Dunnigan was selected as an Instructor Pilot at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 in San Diego, CA, where she currently instructs students on flying the MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter.  She is studying for a Masters degree in Rhetoric and Writing Studies at San Diego State University.

Advice to Students:

Success is not measured in your starting salary. Your goals might change as you discover new things about life and who you are, and that’s ok. Challenging yourself and doing the best you can at any given moment is a big step towards a happy life.

Inducted November 23, 2010