Commanding Officer

Cmdr. Brian J. Berg

Commander Brian “Donkey” Berg, a native of Michigan, enlisted in the Navy in 1997.  After receiving an NROTC scholarship, he was honorably discharged, attained his Bachelor of Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was commissioned in 2003.  He was designated a Naval Aviator earning his “wings of gold” in 2006 and joined the fleet as an E-2 Hawkeye pilot. 
 
Berg’s sea tours include Airborne Command & Control Squadrons (VAW) 126 and VAW-113 flying missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn in Iraq, Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Tomodachi providing humanitarian assistance to the Japanese after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami.  During this time, he was deployed aboard USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76).  He was also recognized as the 2011 Hawkeye Pilot of the Year (at sea).  His Training Officer and Department Head tours were with VAW-112 and VAW-117 conducting Rim of the Pacific Exercise, Foal Eagle, Balikatan, and freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea while deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).  His most recent deployment was aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), as the Mini Boss, conducting operations in the Mediterranean Sea in support of NATO allies. 
 
Ashore, Berg was a Weapons Tactics Instructor at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) in Fallon, Nevada and an Operational Test Pilot and Maintenance Officer with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE in Patuxent River, Maryland.  He is currently attached to Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing as the E-2D Fleet Introduction Team Officer-in-Charge and flies with the Fleet Replacement Squadron in Norfolk, Virginia. 
 
Berg has accumulated over 4,200 flight hours and piloted 367 carrier arrested landings.  His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals, and various other awards.