Executive Officer
Capt. Nicholas A. Willet
Capt. Nicholas Willet, a native of Westminster, Maryland, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in September 2004. He holds a Masters Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in National Security Affairs with a specialty in Europe and Eurasia. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program (TOPGUN) and Naval Nuclear Power School.
Flying the F/A-18F, his operational tours began with the “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 and deployed twice aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and a Western Pacific Deployment. He then served as the Training Officer for the “Black Aces” of VFA-41 during two deployments aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) supporting Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. In 2014, he reported to the “Black Knights” of VFA-154 for his Department Head tour and assisted with the pre deployment training cycle aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He reported in August 2020 aboard the “Swordsmen” of VFA-32 and served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer until February 2023 deploying aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Freedom Sentinel and withdrawal of Afghanistan in 2021.
Ashore, Capt. Willet served as the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) for the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122, as an Action Officer in the Joint Professional Military Education Division of the Joint Staff J-7, and as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff J-7.
He assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in May 2025.
Capt. Willet’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike Flight Air Medal (two), the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three), the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three), and various other medals, unit, and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 3,200 flight hours and 650 arrested landings in the F/A-18F Super Hornet.