Executive Officer
Cmdr. Ian "P-Way" Kimball
Cmdr. Ian J. Kimball, a native of Washington Depot, Connecticut, graduated from Hartwick College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics. He received a commission through the Navy’s Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport News, Rhode Island, in September 2008. He was selected for Naval Flight Officer (NFO) and earned his wings of gold in October 2010.
In April 2011, Kimball reported to the “Bluetails” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 121 in Norfolk, Virginia, to fly the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. He completed back-to-back deployments in 2012 and 2013 with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. During this tour, he graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Control (AIC) course and was selected as the 2013 Airborne Command, Control, & Logistics Wing (ACCLOGWING) NFO of the year.
In December 2013, Kimball reported to TOPGUN as an instructor. There he served as the AIC officer, Command & Control subject matter expert, and Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) Journal editor-in chief. Kimball returned to VAW-121 in November 2016 as the squadron’s Training Officer. During this tour, he deployed aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with CVW-11 in 2017 conducting defensive counterair operations over Syria and Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). For his efforts during OIR, he received the 2017 Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic NFO of the year award.
From 2018-2020 Kimball attended The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he graduated with a master’s degree in business administration through the Navy’s Fleet Scholars Education Program. In June of 2020, he reported to the “Screwtops” of VAW-123 where he deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) with CVW-3 in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) during the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. During this tour, Kimball was selected as a 2022 Navy and Marine Corps Association Peer Leadership award recipient.
From November 2022 to August 2024 Kimball served aboard Commander, Naval Air Forces in San Diego, California, as a Master Aviation Plan Writer developing the multi-security level 10-year strategic resourcing plan for Naval Aviation.
Kimball assumed the duties and responsibilities as the Executive Officer of VAW-126 in June 2025.
Kimball completed 2,000 flight hours in all variants of the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft and holds multiple decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Air Medal (two strike/flight awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards).