Rear Adm. (select) Bolivar was born in Honolulu, and received her commission upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1985.

Bolivar reported to her first tour as the fleet and message center officer/CMS Custodian of the U.S. Naval Communications Station, San Miguel, Philippines. In 1987, she served on the Secretary of the Navy’s (The Honorable James H. Webb, Jr.) staff as a writer/researcher for the Secretary of the Navy’s White House Liaison officer; and then in 1988, she was accepted for lateral transfer to the explosive ordnance disposal/diving and salvage community as a special operations officer.

Bolivar has served in various leadership positions in USS Reclaimer (ARS 42), USS Grasp (ARS 51), USS Grapple (ARS 53) and USS Recovery (ARS 43). She served as the commanding officer of USS Salvor (ARS 52).

Bolivar’s other operational tours include: commanding officer of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One and officer in charge of Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Program while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom’s Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, Task Force Paladin.

Ashore, Bolivar has served in various leadership assignments at Naval Station Norfolk (ordnance officer); commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic Staff; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two Staff; Atlantic Ordnance Command Yorktown (ordnance officer); Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek (executive officer); and Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (operations officer and military professor). She also served as the commanding officer of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and of Navy Munitions Command Continental United States East Division. Most recently, she served as the chief of staff for Commander, Navy Installations Command.

In June 2013, Bolivar assumed the duties as Commander, Navy Region Northwest in Silverdale, Wash.

Bolivar has a Master of Science degree in Management from Troy State University. She was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame, and was also recognized as the Chief of Naval Operations Pacific Fleet Finalist for the Vice Admiral James Stockdale Leadership Award.

In addition to various campaign and service decorations, Bolivar has been award the Legion of Merit (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). Rear Adm. (Sel) Bolivar was recently nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).