Capt. Eric Skalski officially assumed the title of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community’s 19th Bull Frog on May 1.
Skalski, the deputy commander of Commander Task Force 66, succeeded retired Cmdr. Joseph Burns, who had served as NSW’s 18th Bull Frog since Jan. 19, 2023, until his recent retirement.
The Bull Frog title is given to the longest continuously serving active-duty Navy SEAL at the time of receiving the title from their predecessor. The Bull Frog embodies key traits highly valued in the NSW and SEAL community: adaptability, strength and leadership. The title also highlights the naval tradition of nurturing leadership within the community.
“Being the Bull Frog means having a wealth of experiences, but not all of them,” explained Capt. Eric Skalski. “In my nearly 39 years with Naval Special Warfare and the Navy, I’ve witnessed significant changes. As an NSW leader, my role remains consistent: setting a positive example, sharing my experiences, including mistakes, and learning from diverse perspectives. I’ll continue adapting alongside my teammates until I pass the torch to the next Bull Frog.”
When a Bull Frog retires, Naval Special Warfare Command conducts a formal ceremony to officially transfer the title. During this event, the outgoing Bull Frog presents a specially engraved trophy to the newly recognized Bull Frog.
The trophy features a small wooden frog on top and the names of previous Bull Frogs inscribed on the side. However, Skalski is currently stationed in Europe, helping to lead the U.S. 6th Fleet’s newest task force and the ceremonial fare was replaced by an enthusiastic email notification.
