CAPT Carl Trask
Chief of Staff, Submarine Force Atlantic
21 April 2023
Captain Carl Trask, a native of Glendora, California, received his Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps commission in 1999 upon graduating from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Captain Trask’s first sea tour was on USS HOUSTON (SSN 713), where he conducted an Engineered Refueling Overhaul. While attached to HOUSTON, he deployed to the Western Pacific with the USS PORTSMOUTH (SSN 707). As the Weapons Officer of USS CHEYENNE (SSN 773), he conducted a Western Pacific deployment and a Depot Modernization Period. He served as the Executive Officer on USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21) when it completed a deployment to the Northern Atlantic.
Ashore, Captain Trask served on the staff of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as the deputy director of intelligence for battlespace awareness and special programs, the Operations Officer for Submarine Squadron SEVEN in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the Branch Chief for Ballistic Missile Requirements and Resources for United States Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.
He commanded USS CONNECTICUT (SSN 22) from May 2017 through August 2019. The boat performed ICEX 2018 and a West Pacific deployment and earned the Battle Efficiency E’ for 2018 and 2019. He was Commodore of SUBMARINE SQUADRON 15, Agana Guam from April 2022 to June 2024. While Commodore, he certified 5 different submarines for 8 Western pacific deployments.
Captain Trask served on the staff of Commander Task Force 74 as the maritime operations center director and the Director of Maritime Fires for U.S. Pacific Fleet. He assumed the duties of the chief of staff for Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic in June 2025.
Captain Trask’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, plus various campaign and service awards. Captain Trask was also awarded the 2019 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale award for inspirational leadership.