Captain Bruce W. Hay, Jr. USN Commanding Officer Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands

CAPT Hay, a native of Hyde Park, N.Y., received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Economics. He then reported to NAS Pensacola for initial flight training and was designated a naval flight officer on Friday the 13th, March 1992. 

After fleet replacement training to qualify as an electronic countermeasures officer (ECMO), CAPT Hay reported to VAQ-139 for the first of three tours in the Cougars. As a junior officer he earned the inaugural Cougar Leadership Award. As a department head he made the historic 10-month deployment with USS LINCOLN for IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as the first EA-6B night-vision device landing in Bagram, Afghanistan. As the commanding officer, he led the Cougars to the Chief of Naval Operations Battle Efficiency Award, Safety “S”, Tactical Excellence Award and consecutive retention honor rolls while supporting combat operations in ENDURING FREEDOM. Post command, CAPT Hay was the Operations Officer of USS NIMITZ where he was awarded a peer-nominated Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award.

Ashore, CAPT Hay was assigned to VAQ-129 as an instructor; aide to the Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore; USSTRATCOM Support Team Lead at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center; and Future Aircraft Carrier Requirements Officer at Chief Of Naval Operations (N98) at the Pentagon. CAPT Hay became Commanding Officer, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii, in July 2013.

CAPT Hay has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals both with combat distinguishing device as well as other unit and campaign wards. He has more than 2,600 hours in the EA-6B and 802 carrier arrested landings.

CAPT Hay is married to his high school sweetheart Susie.