Executive Officer
Cmdr. James Brigden

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Cmdr. James “Thud” Brigden graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 2007. He commissioned via Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 2007 and earned his Naval Flight Officer (NFO) “Wings of Gold” in June 2009. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from University of Florida in 2020.
 
His shore assignments include: a staff tour with the “Desert Sharks” of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 57, as future operations officer; A staff Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) and a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) subject matter expert (SME) instructor with Tactical Training Group, Pacific (TTGP). Most recently, he completed a joint staff tour with Deputy Director for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations (J-32) in the Pentagon, as J-32's executive assistant and branch chief. 
 
Brigden’s operational assignments include; the “Mad Foxes” of Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 5, where he served as an NFO in Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures  Standardization program and as a P-3 Orion WTI; the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), where he served as V-1 division officer and aircraft launch and recovery equipment officer; and a department head tour with the “Fighting Tigers” of VP-8, where he served as operations officer. He joined the “Pelicans” of VP-45 as Executive Officer (XO) in May 2024.
 
Brigden has completed numerous deployments to 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet and Africa Command (AFRICOM), accumulating over 1,700 flight hours in the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft. He has participated in Operations Enduring Freedom, Active Endeavor, Odyssey Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Sentinel Shield, and Unified Response. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5), and various other personal, service, and unit awards.