Commander Bryant Nunn
Commander Bryant “Bunny” Nunn was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career of military service by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in July 1994 and became an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank Crewman with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC.
In July 1996, Commander Nunn was accepted to the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI. Upon completion, he attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He graduated in May 2001, earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Systems Engineering and was subsequently selected to attend flight training as a Navy Pilot.
Upon completion of flight training in March 2003, Commander Nunn selected Maritime Patrol Aviation as a career path. In his first operational tour as a member of Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16) in Jacksonville, FL, Commander Nunn became a qualified Patrol Plane Commander and Mission Commander in the mighty P-3 Orion, and ultimately flew multiple combat missions in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Commander Nunn was then selected for duty as a Primary Flight Instructor at Training Squadron Two (VT-2) in Milton, FL in March 2007. While at VT-2, he flew over 1000 hours in the T-34 Turbomentor and trained 13 student naval aviators through their initial flight solo. As the VT-2 Naval Training and Operations Standardization Instructor, he also became an instructor to new flight instructors within the NAS Whiting Field Fixed Wing Training Unit. During his instructor pilot tour at VT-2, Commander Nunn earned his MBA at the University of Florida and was chosen by his peers to speak at the commencement ceremony.
After his flight instructor tour, Commander Nunn volunteered to support the Global War on Terrorism as Executive Officer of the Central Command Joint Operations Center in Tampa, FL and Al Udied, Qatar.
Commander Nunn then assumed duty as Operations Administration Officer onboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) in June 2010. While onboard, he earned the distinguished status of being named the 144th Officer of the Deck in the Ship’s history.
Upon completion of his tour on the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, Commander Nunn was selected for Aviation Department Head in Patrol Squadron Forty-Five (VP-45) in Jacksonville, FL in August 2012. During this tour, he transitioned from the P-3 Orion to the P-8 Poseidon. As Squadron Operations Officer, he coordinated two operational deployments in the Pacific while operating the Navy’s newest maritime aircraft.
After a highly successful Operational Department Head tour, Commander Nunn was selected as the Safety Officer for the Naval Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aviation force. While in this position, he played a key instructional role in transitioning west coast Maritime Aviation squadrons from the P-3 Orion to the P-8 Poseidon and preparing NAS Whidbey Island, WA for safe logistical support of the P-8.
In June 2018, Commander Nunn assumed the role of Safety Officer onboard the U.S. Navy’s newest and the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, the USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN 78). While onboard FORD, he was nominated by his peers to receive the 2018 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award.
In June 2020, he began his current tour as Executive Officer of the Navy Officer Education Program at the University of Michigan.
In his flying career, Commander Nunn has safely flown over 2800 flight hours in four different aircraft. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Joint Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (five awards).
Commander Nunn and his wonderful wife, Renee, have three sons. Andre (16), Donovan (12) and Brandon (10).
