Shivangi Sinha
For Angie Violante, serving as the Lieutenant Commander and Executive Officer aboard the USS Green Bay came with immense responsibility. In this leadership role, she oversaw operations, ensured coordination between departments, and supported the ship’s commanding officer in maintaining efficiency and discipline. Netflix’s ‘Marines’ captures how she balanced the weight of her duties with her personal life, especially being away from her young son waiting at home. Through her story, viewers saw the challenges of leadership at sea and the emotional strength required to serve while managing family life.
Angie Violante Harbored Dreams of Becoming a Captain One Day
As the second in command of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Lieutenant Commander Angelina “Angie” Violante served as the Executive Officer aboard the USS Green Bay, a position that demanded a lot from her. Her role required her to oversee daily ship operations, manage coordination between departments, and ensure the seamless execution of missions alongside the commanding officer. She was seen warning her officers about the presence of a Chinese AGI tailing their movements and the incident underscored her vigilance and responsibility in maintaining the safety and awareness of the crew.
Inside her office, Angie kept small reminders of home, such as photos of her husband and son, Elliot. She reflected on the irony that women in leadership are often discouraged from displaying family photos, while men are praised for doing so, as it makes them appear more relatable. For Angie, the emotions of missing moments of her child’s growth while fulfilling her duty and pursuing her long-held dream of becoming a captain were familiar feelings. She said that she wanted to be a Captain one day and it was not a dream she wanted to give up on. By the end of the mission, she was promoted to Commander, a milestone achievement that also brought with it the ongoing dichotomy between her will to be with her family and her commitment to her career at sea.
Angie Violante’s Career With the US Marines Shines Even Today
Angie Violante was raised in Stratford, Connecticut. She graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in General Science and later completed her Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I through distance learning. Her professional journey has seen her serve across diverse maritime environments, each phase sharpening her operational and strategic expertise. She began her sea duty aboard the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) as the Machinery Division Officer during a Fifth Fleet deployment. She then joined the USS Decatur (DDG 73) as the Training Officer, where she supported multiple operations across the Third, Fourth, and Seventh Fleets.
Her international experience expanded when she joined the Personnel Exchange Program in the United Kingdom, serving as First Lieutenant aboard HMS Severn. There, she helped oversee patrols across the North Atlantic, English Channel, and North Sea, broadening her operational perspective in joint maritime operations. In 2016, she boarded a WWII salvage ship while working with the Royal Navy. Upon returning to the US Navy, she took on her first Department Head tour aboard the USS O’Kane (DDG 77) as Operations Officer, contributing to deployments such as WESTPAC, RIMPAC, and PAC DRAGON.
Her second Department Head tour aboard the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) saw her play a crucial role as the Plans and Tactics Officer, helping restore the ship to full operational capability and lead it through major readiness phases after its return from Pascagoula to San Diego. Ashore, Angie continued to shape the Navy’s future as N3 and N5 at Surface Development Squadron ONE, working on programs related to the DDG 1000 Class and Unmanned Surface Vessels. Most recently, she served as Executive Officer of the USS Green Bay and was promoted to Commander in 2024. While she has not publicly shared her current posting, it is likely that she continues to serve as a Commander or is taking a well-earned break to spend time with her family before her next chapter at sea.
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Angie Violante is a Doting Mother to Her Son
Angie Violante now resides in San Diego, California, with her husband, Rich Collins, and their son, Elliot. She appears to be deeply devoted to her family and has immense love and pride for them, though she prefers to keep most of her personal life private. Despite her demanding naval career, she balances her professional duties with the time she gives her family. She is known for her professionalism and leadership and she continues to embody the values of hard work both at home and in her career.
