Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Jake Weinzatl
Cmdr. Jake Weinzatl is a native of Buckner, Missouri, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Winged as a naval aviator in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 10, 2010, Weinzatl then completed P-3 Orion aircraft flight training at Patrol Squadron (VP) 30. His first operational tour was with VP-26 in Jacksonville, Florida, where he deployed to the 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR) and was selected as the Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Naval Flight Officer (NFO) of the Year for 2013.
In June of 2014, he joined VP-30 as a P-8A Poseidon aircraft Instructor Tactical Coordinator. While there, he served as First Lieutenant, NFO Schedules Officer, and NFO Instructor Under Training Standardization Officer.
He then qualified as Assistant Navigator aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in Yokosuka, Japan, and completed four deployments in the 7th Fleet AOR and was selected as the Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific, Ship handler of the Year for 2018.
He was selected for Department Head and joined the ranks of the “Golden Swordsmen” of VP-47 where he served as the Safety/ Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Officer, Training Officer, and Operations Officer. He deployed to the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet AORs, serving as Officer in Charge of detachments in El Salvador, Norway, and India.
In December of 2019, he joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, where he served as the Air and Cruise Missile Defense of the Homeland Branch Chief in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. In May of 2024, he joined VP-16, the “War Eagles” as the Executive Officer.
Weinzatl is now serving as the Commanding Officer of VP-16 as of June 2025.
His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps. Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.