Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Clayton E. Hunt
Cmdr. Clayton E. Hunt, a native of Alachua, Florida, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 2008 and was awarded a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College in 2022. He was awarded his naval aviator “Wings of Gold” upon completing primary flight training in February 2010.
His operational assignments include the “War Eagles” of Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 16, where he served as quality assurance officer and pilot training officer, the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5, where he served as the squadron maritime tactics instructor (SMTI), both at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, and a department head tour with the “Grey Knights” of VP-46 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, where he served as the operations and maintenance officer.
His shore assignments include an instructor tour at the Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS) at NAS Jacksonville, where he served as the weapons and tactics department head and weapons and tactics instructor (WTI) course coordinator. Most recently, he completed in-residence education at the United States Naval War College, where he served as a member of the Halsey Alfa advanced research program and was selected as the honor graduate of his class.
He has completed multiple deployments to the 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility, accumulating over 2,300 flight hours in the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
Hunt’s military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4) and various other personal, service, and unit awards.