Lieutenant Commander Thelmar A. Rosarda

Lieutenant Commander Rosarda, of Zambales, Philippines and Chattanooga, Tennessee, enlisted in the United States Navy in 2004. After completing Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL, he reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Five (HSC 25) as an Airman then as an Information Systems Technician. Subsequently, he received a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship, graduating from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and commissioning as an Ensign in the United States Navy in 2009.

Afloat, LCDR Rosarda served his division officer tours, fleeting up aboard the frigate USS De Wert (FFG 45) homeported in Mayport, FL. There, he served as the Electrical Division Officer; Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Officer; and Administration Division Officer. He operated and completed two deployments to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Horn of Africa in support of Counter-Piracy Operations with Task Force 151 and Standing NATO Maritime Group One during Operation Ocean Shield. Selected to serve as a Surface Warfare Officer Department Head, LCDR Rosarda reported as Chief Engineer to USS Stockdale (DDG 106), a guided missile destroyer homeported in San Diego, CA. On Stockdale, he led the attainment of Engineering Operations Certification, served as the Tactical Action Officer for Anti-Submarine Warfare certification, and deployed with the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific region, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. Following his service on Stockdale, LCDR Rosarda reported as Chief Engineer to USS Somerset (LPD 25), an amphibious landing platform homeported in San Diego, CA. Aboard Somerset, he participated in multiple amphibious exercises including the Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise in the Bering Sea and Somerset’s deployment with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group to the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Horn of Africa, and Arabian Sea. While serving aboard USS Somerset (LPD 25), LCDR Rosarda was selected to the Navy’s Surface Warfare Officer Early Command program. He served as Captain of the USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), a patrol coastal ship homeported in Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Bahrain from June 2021 until the ship’s decommissioning in March 2023. Operating under Task Force 55 in the U.S. Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility, LCDR Rosarda also served as the Surface Action Group Commander for Patrol Coastal and U.S. Coast Guard Ships during Operation Unified Takedown, special task force missions, and the Patrol Coastal ship sail around and transfer to Egypt. Under his command, Thunderbolt received the Commander, Naval Surface Squadron FIVE’s Award for Excellence in Unit Tactics.

Ashore, LCDR Rosarda served on the Commandant’s Staff and as an Officer-In-Charge/Craftmaster on Yard Patrol Crafts at the United States Naval Academy. He then served as an Action Officer for the Surface Warfare Division on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N96). Prior to reporting to his first department head tour, he qualified as an Engineering Assessor at Engineering Assessments Pacific and conducted evaluations on U.S. Pacific Fleet ships.

LCDR Rosarda holds a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies (Indo-Pacific Focus) from the Naval War College. He has also completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the College of Naval Command and Staff.

LCDR Rosarda’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Battle Efficiency (4 awards), and multiple other unit and service awards.