Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211), nicknamed the "Fighting Checkmates", is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1945. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Oceana and is equipped with the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet.
Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213) Blacklions is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. It was established in 1955 and is currently equipped with the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The squadron is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight and uses the radio callsign Lion.
Timothy John Keating is a retired United States Navy admiral. During his career, he served as commander of Carrier Group Five, the United States 5th Fleet, the United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and United States Pacific Command. He retired in 2009 after more than 38 years of service. He was the first navy officer to head Northern Command and NORAD.
Michael Harold "Mike" Miller is a former vice admiral in the United States Navy, and was the first active-duty officer to direct the White House Military Office. He was the 61st Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.
John B. Nathman is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command until 17 May 2007.
Vice Admiral David Charles Nichols Jr. is a retired senior U.S. Navy officer and Naval Flight Officer. At the time of his retirement in September 2007, he was the Deputy Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill AFB, Florida.
Admiral James Oren Ellis Jr. is a retired 4-star admiral and former Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations until May 2012 and serves on the board of directors of Lockheed Martin.
Vice Admiral James Henry Flatley Jr. was a World War II naval aviator and tactician for the United States Navy (USN). He became a fighter ace credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
Thomas McClelland is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.
Gerald Roger Beaman is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and an ex Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
William Evans "Bill" Gortney is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the sixth commander of United States Northern Command and the 23rd commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He previously served as the Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command from September 14, 2012 to December 2014 and Director of the Joint Staff from July 1, 2010 to August 2012. Prior to that, he served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet. He assumed his post as CDRUSNORTHCOM and commander of NORAD on December 5, 2014, and was succeeded by General Lori Robinson on May 13, 2016.
Bruce Waid Clingan is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe, United States Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples from February 24, 2012 to July 22, 2014. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy and Commander, United States Sixth Fleet, as well as Commander, Joint Command Lisbon from August 2008 to November 2009. He retired from the Navy in the fall of 2014 after over 37 years of service.
William A. "Andy" Brown was a vice admiral in the United States Navy last serving as the director for logistics, J4 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Walter Edward Carter Jr. is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and an American civilian academic administrator who is the incoming 17th president of The Ohio State University. Since 2020, Carter has been the 8th president of the University of Nebraska System. Carter previously served as the 62nd superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and 54th president of the U.S. Naval War College.
John W. "Fozzie" Miller is a retired United States Navy Vice Admiral who last served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Manama, Bahrain. Prior to assuming the duties of NAVCENT/C5F, Miller was special assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy (N3/N5) in Washington, D.C. He has also served as NAVCENT deputy commander.
Carrier Strike Group 5, also known as CSG 5 or CARSTRKGRU 5, is the U.S. Navy carrier strike group assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet and permanently forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Strike Group Flagship is the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) which also embarks Strike Warfare Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five and its nine squadrons. As of June 2015, CSG 5 includes three Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Destroyer Squadron Fifteen, which serves as the Sea Combat Commander and is responsible for seven assigned Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
Thomas Albert Cropper is an American retired United States Navy rear admiral and academic administrator serving as president of the California State University Maritime Academy. Cropper was appointed on July 1, 2012 with the rank of honorary rear admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service.
Dee Leon Mewbourne is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who served as 16th deputy commander of United States Transportation Command between July 2, 2019 and June 29, 2022.
Kenneth Ray Whitesell is a vice admiral in the United States Navy, and the current Commander, Naval Air Forces. He is scheduled to retire on September 7, 2023.
Rear Admiral Michael A. Brookes is an active duty United States Navy officer and career intelligence officer who is currently serving as director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office and commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Prior to his current assignment, Brookes was the Director of Intelligence, J2, at U.S. Southern Command; he also served as Director of Intelligence, J2, at U.S. Strategic Command and deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet.
