---
born: 1997
category: Extremism & Violent Networks
created: 2026-05-22
location: Naval Air Station Lemoore, California
summary: David Cole Tarkington was a U.S. Navy aviation machinist mate identified
  via the Iron March data leak as a prolific Atomwaffen Division online recruiter,
  and was administratively separated from the Navy in April 2020 following an NCIS
  investigation.
tags:
- Person
- AtomwaffenDivision
- NeoNazi
- Military
- IronMarch
- USA
- NavyInvestigation
updated: 2026-05-22
---

David Cole Tarkington was an [U.S. Navy](/organizations/us-navy/) aviation machinist's mate apprentice serving with Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-41 (the "Black Aces") at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, who was identified in March 2020 as a prolific [Atomwaffen Division](/organizations/atomwaffen-division/) online recruiter through analysis of the leaked [Iron March](/organizations/iron-march/) forum data. He had operated under the username "The Yank" on Iron March from 2013 to late 2016, attempting to recruit at least twelve forum members into AWD. Following publication of the findings by Gizmodo and an investigation by Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Tarkington was administratively separated from the Navy in April 2020. No criminal charges were filed.[^1]

### Iron March Activity

The Iron March forum was a neo-fascist platform that operated from 2011 to 2017 and served as the founding environment for Atomwaffen Division and several other neo-Nazi organizations. An anonymous source using the account "antifa-data" uploaded the forum's complete user data to the Internet Archive on November 6, 2019, enabling researchers to identify hundreds of users by cross-referencing account details with publicly accessible information.

Tarkington's Iron March account, "The Yank," is documented as active from approximately September 2013, when he was 15 or 16 years old, through December 2016. During that period he evolved from a new forum participant into what Gizmodo described as one of AWD's most prolific online recruiters, attempting to bring at least twelve Iron March members into the organization. His AWD recruitment activity significantly predated his Navy enlistment, which occurred in July 2019.[^2]

### Military Service

Tarkington enlisted in the Navy in July 2019, approximately three years after his active Iron March period ended. He was assigned to VFA-41, a carrier-based strike fighter squadron that flies F/A-18F Super Hornets. His role as an aviation machinist's mate involved maintenance of aircraft engines, propellers, and associated systems. He was stationed at Lemoore at the time of his identification.[^1]

### NCIS Investigation and Separation

Gizmodo published its investigation identifying Tarkington on March 12, 2020. The Navy launched an NCIS investigation following the publication and, according to Commander Ron Flanders, a spokesman for Naval Air Forces, Tarkington was "administratively separated" following the investigation. Flanders confirmed the separation was "administrative in nature" but declined to provide details about its characterization, citing privacy act restrictions. The separation occurred in April 2020, approximately one month after publication.[^3]

The administrative separation, rather than a court-martial or criminal referral, meant that Tarkington faced no criminal conviction. The legal basis for the separation is not specified in available public records; administrative separation under the Uniform Code of Military Justice framework can be used for a range of conduct that falls short of criminal charges but renders a service member unsuitable for continued service.

### Iron March Data and Broader Military Exposure

Tarkington's case illustrates AWD's use of online recruitment infrastructure that predated members' military service by years. His recruitment of twelve individuals through Iron March, if successful, would represent a significant pipeline. The Iron March data leak that exposed him also identified dozens of other military-affiliated neo-Nazi sympathizers across multiple branches, contributing to the House Armed Services Committee's 2021 investigation into extremism in the ranks.[^4]

[^1]: Gizmodo. "Leak Exposes U.S. Navy Sailor as Once-Prolific Recruiter for Neo-Nazi Group." March 12, 2020. https://gizmodo.com/leak-exposes-u-s-navy-sailor-as-once-prolific-recruite-1841149776
[^2]: Scripps News / E.W. Scripps. "We Found More Active Duty Military In Leaked Neo-Nazi Forum." 2020. https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/military/we-found-more-active-duty-military-in-leaked-neo-nazi-forum
[^3]: Newsweek. "Navy Kicks Out Alleged Recruiter for Neo-Nazi Group Atomwaffen Division After Investigation." April 2020. https://www.newsweek.com/navy-kicks-out-alleged-recruiter-neo-nazi-group-atomwaffen-division-after-investigation-1498704; Task & Purpose. "David Cole Tarkington Was Administratively Separated Following a Navy Investigation." 2020. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-neo-nazi-sailor-separated/
[^4]: Military Times. "Desire to Join Military Large Focus of Leaked Chats in Infamous Neo-Nazi Forum." November 2019. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/11/07/desire-to-join-military-large-focus-of-leaked-chats-in-infamous-neo-nazi-forum/