Dell Bull

Dell David Bull (born 1965) is a retired United States Navy Rear Admiral and Naval Flight Officer bombardier/navigator currently assigned as Deputy Director for Operations and Intelligence Integration at the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO). He previously served as Special Assistant for Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C. From July 2015 to June 2017, Bull was Chief of Naval Air Training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Early life and education Dell Bull was born in 1965 in Oak Harbor, Washington, to Lyle F. Bull and Diana ( Stone). He has three older brothers: Ron, Vince, and Bruce. At the time of Bull's birth, his father had recently separated from the United States Naval Reserve as a Naval Flight Officer Bombardier/Navigator and the family moved for a short period of time to East Moline, Illinois, to be near his parents' respective families. When the navy recruited Bull's father into active duty service in 1965, the family returned to Oak Harbor and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He and his brothers attended school there, with Bull graduating from Oak Harbor High School in 1983. Following high school, Bull attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.

Navy career Naval Flight Officer Following college graduation and Officer Candidate School, Bull received a commission in the United States Navy as an ensign, designated a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and received his wings in 1989. Bull was assigned to Grumman A-6 Intruder replacement aircrew training at NAS Whidbey Island with VA-128. Bull then received orders to VA-196, also at NAS Whidbey Island and one of the squadrons in which his father served during the Vietnam War, including as executive officer in 1974 when Bull was nine years old. Bull deployed with VA-196 aboard the , flying missions during Operation Desert Shield in 1990.

Controversy In July 2017, Bull was ordered to report to Washington, D.C., with RADM Jay Bynum taking his place as Chief of Naval Air Training at NAS Corpus Christi. News reports referred to the change of command as "sudden".

When Bull's reassignment was announced, change of command had already occurred. At that time, Bull had written a letter to his staff that stated he was going to Washington, D.C., to lead a team which would "solve problems with Navy and Marine Corps fighter jets."