Commodore Don Polo entered the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard as an Officer Cadet in January, 1993 and completed his basic training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom that same year.  He went on to specialize in special and counter-narcotic operations at the small unit level, both at sea and on land before re-entering the Coast Guard’s regular squadron as a Patrol Boat Captain. During his career he has functioned in a variety of operational and staff positions both in Trinidad and Tobago and overseas, including at the Inter-American Defence Board in Washington, DC. Commodore Polo has completed both junior and senior staff courses and is the holder of a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, a Master of Law (Maritime) from the University of London, and a Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of the West Indies.  He was appointed as the 15th Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard with effect from 01 August, 2020.

On 07 October 2025, Commodore Don Polo was appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.