Commanding Officer

Cmdr. Jonathan Faraco

Cmdr. Jonathan Faraco, a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL, graduated and was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in May 2003 and was designated a naval flight officer in November 2005.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Quantitative Economics (with merit), as well as a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Faraco is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN Air Intercept Control course and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

 Faraco’s operational assignments include tours with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 as a junior officer, USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as the assistant navigator (ANAV), and VAW-115 forward deployed to NAF Atsugi, Japan as a department head.  He has deployed six times in support of Operation  Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and numerous international exercises in the Western Pacific.  

Faraco’s shore assignments include tours with VAW-120, the VAW/VRC Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), United States Naval War College in Newport, RI, and Navy Personnel Command, PERS-43 (aviation officer assignments) in Millington, TN.  While at VAW-120, he served as the E-2C Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) where he instructed FRS students on tactical employment and systems utilization.  While serving as the assistant operations officer (AOPS) at VAW-120, Faraco was selected for the 2011 Navy and Marine Association Peer Leadership award.  While at PERS-43, he initially served as the VAW, VRC, VRM, VT Strike, and Inter-service Personnel Exchange (PEP) placement officer and completed his tour at PERS-43 as the assistant captain detailer. 

Faraco has flown numerous combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.  His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal (2), and Navy Achievement Medal (2) as well as other individual, campaign, and unit awards.