AMES, Iowa—Capt. Ricks W. Polk is the new commanding officer at Iowa State University’s Naval ROTC unit. He assumed command of the Cyclone Battalion on Nov. 15.
As commanding officer Polk leads a battalion of 61 students.
Polk most recently commanded the Military Sealift Command Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron ONE, forwarded deployed in Europe and Africa. Prior to that assignment he served as commanding officer for Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific in Pearl Harbor.
Polk, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., enlisted in the Navy in 1977 and attended recruit training in Orlando, Fla. He graduated from the University of West Florida as summa cum laude, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology.
Polk’s career also has included assignments as a marine officer in the Bahamas, executive officer and commanding officer at the Mine Warfare Training Center in Ingleside, Texas, and commanded the USS Ingraham, which deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf and Somali Basin.
He also has two masters degrees, in military operational art and science from the Air Command and Staff College, and in human resources management from Troy State University.
Naval ROTC is an academic unit in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. -30-
About Liberal Arts and Sciences The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a world-class learning and research community. Iowa State’s most academically diverse college, LAS educates students to become global citizens, providing rigorous academic programs in the sciences, humanities and social sciences within a supportive personalized learning environment. College faculty design new materials, unravel biological structures, care for the environment, and explore social and behavioral issues. From fundamental research to technology transfer and artistic expression, the college supports people in Iowa and around the world.
NEWS RELEASE College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University
Contacts: Capt. Ricks Polk, Naval ROTC, (515) 294-6050, rpolk@iastate.edu Paige Berg, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communication, (515) 294-0461, pmberg@iastate.edu Steve Jones, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communication, (515) 294-0461, jones@iastate.edu