Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Andrew R. Beard

Cmdr. Andrew Beard assumed the duties as Commanding Officer for VRC-40, the East coast Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) Squadron, in November 2020. 

Beard earned an International Baccalaureate from the Vienna International School.  He graduated with merit and commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.  He attended the Johns Hopkins University through the Voluntary Graduate Education Program while still enrolled at the Naval Academy and received a Master of Science degree in Computer Science.  Additionally, he completed his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I through the Naval War College.

Beard’s sea duty started with the Providers of VRC-30 deploying with USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).  He served as Flag Aide to the Commander Carrier Strike Group ONE deploying with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).  He served as a Department Head with the Rawhides of VRC-40 as the Safety, Maintenance and Operations officers, then deployed with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the Officer in Charge of the embarked C-2 detachment (VRC-40 Det 1).  Ashore duty includes a tour with VT-9 where he was named the Instructor of the Year (2010). He was assigned to the Joint Staff in the J-33 Current Operations Division and was selected as Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman for Operations (VDJ-3).  He recently served as Executive Officer of the E-2 and C-2 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), VAW-120.
 
Having grown up living in Paris, France and Vienna, Austria he speaks German and is fluent in French. 

Beard’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service and unit awards.