Auburn University
Auburn University
NROTC Home Battalion Visitors Marines Directions Contact Us
Auburn University
 
Homepage > NROTC Staff > Executive Officer

Executive Officer
CDR Shannon E. Coulter


Commander Shannon E. Coulter is the Associate Professor of Naval Science, Auburn University. While attending Washington State University, he cross-enrolled in the University of Idaho's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program,
graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and earning his commission as an Ensign on 22 December, 1990.

CDR Coulter was assigned to initial flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor with the "Cosmic Cats" of VT-10 at NAS Pensacola, FL. After selecting the jet pipeline, he continued his training with the "Sabrehawks" of VT-86 flying the T-39 Sabreliner and the T-2C Buckeye. He earned his Naval Flight Officer (NFO) wings in July 1992, before reporting to the "Gunfighters" of Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) VF-124, aboard NAS Miramar, San Diego, CA, for training as a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in the F-14A/B Tomcat.

Upon completing the FRS in December 1993, CDR "Flash" Coulter reported to the "Screaming Eagles" of VF-51 at NAS Miramar. He completed one WESTPAC deployment aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) where he served as the squadron's Legal Officer. After decommissioning the squadron in the spring of 1995, he transferred to FITRONONEZEROTHREE at NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA, where he served as the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Officer.
Following a MED Cruise aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) that included flying Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE and enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, he detached from the "Jolly Rogers" in June 1997 and returned to NAS Pensacola as a VT-86 RIO and Weapons System Operator (WSO) instructor. In September 2000, he returned to the fleet as the CVW-7 Schedules Officer where he flew in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE as the air wing patrolled the Eastern Seaboard post-9/11. CVW-7 then cruised aboard USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV 67) in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH. Flash checked in to the "Pukin' Dogs" of Fighter Squadron ONE FOUR THREE as a Department Head in November 2002 where he served as the Administrative and Operations Officer. After the squadron completed its final cruise in the Tomcat aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, he reported to the Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) at Eglin AFB, FL for a three year shore tour. In June 2008, he accepted a 12 month Global War on Terrorism Support Assignment (GSA) to the Multi-National Force-Iraq Logistics Directorate, Camp Victory, Iraq, where he was assigned as the Iraqi Civil Aviation Project Officer. Following this deployment, in July of 2009, CDR Coulter reported for his current assignment as the Executive Officer of the University of Auburn Naval ROTC Unit, Auburn, AL. War Eagle!