Executive Officer
Cmdr. Ryan P. January
Cmdr. Ryan January is a native of Salinas, California, he graduated from San Diego State University in 2007, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. He was commissioned through the Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in July 2008. In August 2009, January reported to the “Greyhawks” Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120 for initial fleet training as an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft Air Battle Manager, where in July 2010, he earned his wings as a Naval Flight Officer (NFO).
January began his operational flying in February 2011, with the “Wallbangers” of VAW-117. While at the “Wallbangers,” he deployed aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and contingency operations in the Red Sea. During this tour he served as the Legal Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Line Division Officer. Additionally, he graduated from the Navy Strike Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an Air Intercept Controller (AIC).
After completion of his first operational tour, January graduated the Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course and reported to the Airborne Command and Control Logistics Weapons School (ACCLWS) Atlantic as the Fighter Tactics and AIC subject matter expert (SME). While assigned to ACCLWS, he augmented the Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic as the AIC SME, providing lectures and evaluation to carrier air wings (CVW) attending the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program.
January returned to the fleet as a training officer for VAW-126, the “Seahawks,” where he deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) during the first Navy Dynamic Force Employment deployment. After serving as Training Officer, he was assigned to Navy Personnel Command (NPC) as the VAW/Fleet Logistics Support Squadron/Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron Unmanned Carrier- Launched Multi- Role Squadron detailer at Aviation Officer Assignments (PERS) 43, Millington, Tennessee. While at NPC, he was responsible for the assignment of more than 700 pilots and NFOs across four separate communities.
January returned to the fleet as a Department Head for VAW-126 where he deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman in support of Operation Atlas Guardian and OIR as the Admin and Maintenance Officer. Following his department head tour, he served as an Action Officer, Joint Staff, J-7, Joint Training Directorate, Suffolk, Virginia. While on the Joint Staff, he directly supported Combatant Command Tier 1 exercises as a Modeling and Simulation planner and Operations Officer overseeing five branches of 10 active duty, 48 government civilians, and 215 contractors.
He was selected for squadron command in March 2024 and reported to VAW-121 as Executive Officer in August 2025.
January has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours and over 433 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit awards and citations.