Cmdr. Colleen P. Handbury

Commanding Officer Navy Information Operation Command (NIOC) Pensacola

01 July 2022 A native of Illinois, Cmdr. Colleen P. Handbury graduated cum laude from The George Washington University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs: Conflict and Security, and was commissioned through the NROTC program as a Surface Warfare Officer.  She later earned her master’s degree with honors in Political Science from the University of Illinois.  Her education has included JPME Phase I through the Naval War College, JPME Phase II from the Joint Forces Staff College, as well as certificates in Space Systems Operations and Cybersecurity from the Naval Postgraduate School.

At sea, Cmdr. Handbury served aboard USS McCampbell (DDG 85), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as the Strike Officer where she qualified as a SWO and Engineering Officer of the Watch; COMDESRON 26 as Schedules Officer and Acting Operations Officer, deploying with the Harry S. Truman Strike Group and participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn; Expeditionary Strike Group 2 as Flag Lieutenant; and as the plank owner Direct Support Department Head of Cryptologic Warfare Maritime Activity (CWMA) 61, deploying on a PACFLT combatant. 

Ashore tours include COMSUBPAC Navy Data Center in Yokosuka, Japan as watch officer and N1 / N5 Department Head; Fleet Information Operations Center Department Head at NIOC Maryland as her initial cryptologic warfare office tour; and Joint Warfare Analysis Center Liaison Officer to U.S. Cyber Command.  Prior to reporting to NIOC Pensacola, she served as the N391 / Information Operations Officer at Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Cmdr. Handbury is a Joint Qualified Officer and a member of the Space Cadre.  Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), as well as multiple unit and service awards.