Commander Kirk S. Lippold, USN (Ret.), (born April 29, 1959) is a former U.S. Navy officer. He was the commanding officer of the United States Navy destroyer on October 12, 2000, when the ship was attacked and bombed by al-Qaeda terrorists during a refueling stop in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 U.S. sailors. Lippold assumed command of "Cole" on June 25, 1999, and served until he was relieved on March 9, 2001.