Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Brad Weiland
Cmdr. Brad Weiland is a native of Northridge, California. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1999 and deployed twice aboard USS Ramage (DDG 61) as a Fire Controlman. He was selected for the Seaman to Admiral program, and in 2007, he graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, where he received his commission through the Naval ROTC program. He was designated as an E-2 Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer in 2009.
His sea tours include the Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126 “Seahawks” and the “Wallbangers” of VAW-117. With the “Seahawks,” he completed a U.S. 5th Fleet deployment with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 while embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and he graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Controller course. With the “Wallbangers,” he served as the Safety, Admin, and Maintenance Officer, deployed on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operation Freedoms Sentinel, and led the squadron through their transition from the E-2C to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
Ashore, he served as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) NFO Instructor with the “Greyhawks” of VAW-120 and as the Flag Aide to the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet homeported in Bahrain. Most recently, he served as a Congressional Liaison for the Navy to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Financial Management and Comptroller (FMBE).
As of June 2024, he has assumed the duties of the Commanding Officer of VAW-121.
He has accumulated over 1,900 flight hours and 200 arrested landings in the E-2 Hawkeye. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (strike/flight award), the Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (5), and various unit and campaign awards.