Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Brett Eckert
Cmdr. Brett “Yeti” Eckert is a native of Thornton, Colorado. Enlisting in the Navy in 19987, he served as an AW/Rescue Swimmer in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Seven (HS-7) and deployed twice on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). He was selected for the seaman to Admiral Program and graduated from Jacksonville University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science and Geography. He completed flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was “winged” a Naval Aviator in 2008.
Eckert reported to Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16) in July 2009 and qualified as a P-3C aircraft commander, mission commander, and instructor pilot. While assigned ot the “War Eagles”, he deployed to 4th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility and help the positions of airframes branch office, pilot training officer, and assistant operations officer. In 2012, Eckert transitioned to the P-8A Poseidon and was recognized as Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven’s (CPRW-11) Naval Aviator of the Year.
In Jun 2013, Eckert reported to maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS)/VP-30 for duty as a Fleet Replacement Squadron instructor pilot and weapons and tactics instructor. He served as the pilot fleet instructor under training lead and pilot training officer.
Eckert served onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the operations administrative officer from February 2016 to January 2018. He deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Eckert qualified as Officer of the Deck (OOD) underway and Command Duty Officer (CDO) underway.
Eckert joined VP-45 as a department head in July 2018. He helped the positions of tactics department head, training department head, and deployed to the 7th Fleet AOR as the Operations Officer.
In November 2020, Eckert assume the duties as Operations Officer for CPRW-11. He coordinated over 27 fleet support exercises as well as humanitarian support for Haiti after a devastating Earthquake in 2021. In May 2023, Eckert assumed duties as Executive Officer of the VP-5 “Mad Foxes”.
Eckert’s personal decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (4), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (2). He holds a Master’s Degree in Operations Management from Arkansas University and has accumulated over 2,000 military flight hours.