Commanding Officer
Cmdr. John Houston

Cmdr. John Houston, a graduate of Villanova University, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance as a Reserve Officer Training Corps midshipman in 2003 and was commissioned a naval officer shortly thereafter. In 2005 he was designated a naval aviator in Corpus Christi, Texas.

 Operationally, Houston first served in Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida. As a pilot in VP-45, Houston participated in numerous operational missions, detachments, and deployments working with U.S. and Allied forces on six continents.

Houston later served as the flag aide for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, based out of Norfolk, Virginia. As the flag aide, Houston planned and executed the admiral’s daily and long-term schedule and activities. While a squadron department head, Houston was detailed to VP-4 based out of Kaneohe, Hawaii and later Whidbey Island, Washington. During his tour with VP-4, Houston acted as the detachment officer-in-charge in Comalapa, El Salvador and later as the maintenance officer. Over the course of his operational tours, Houston deployed to the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Active Endeavor, Operation Caribshield, and the Kosovo Campaign.

Houston’s shore assignments include a tour with VP-30 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida as a P-3C fleet replacement squadron instructor pilot, a tour as a student at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas where he participated in the Art of War Scholars program and received a Master of Military Art and Science with a concentration in Military History, and, most recently, a tour with the Department of State in Washington, D.C. as the acting deputy director and senior aviation advisor for the Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) Task Force. In his role on the MANPADS Task Force, Houston was tasked with managing and implementing programs that prevent the illicit proliferations of MANPADS to non-state actors.

Houston returned to Jacksonville, Florida in the summer of 2019 to receive refresher training in his primary aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon. In May of 2020 Houston reported to VP-10 as the executive officer and in June of 2021 Houston proudly became the 85th commanding officer.