How do I change expected_ship_date from timestamp to m-d-Y format?

We use expected_ship_date so that we can let our customers know when they can expect their order to ship. The date is entered in the admin area by going to Customers > PO's Enter Tracking #'s. I have looked through the code in confirm_track.php and confirm_track_sub.php and tried to make edits anywhere where the date would be formatted and nothing has seemed to work. In the comments of the email sent out the expected_ship_date displays an actual date but in the Expected Date portion of the email expected_ship_date is a timestamp. What kind of code would be making this a timestamp and/or what could could I insert to make sure it displays as a date instead?