Executive Officer
Cmdr. David Christenson
Cmdr. David Christenson is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2009. He was designated a naval aviator in 2010. He graduated from the United States Naval War College with a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies in 2020.
Operationally, Christenson served as an instructor pilot with Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 where he deployed three times, serving in the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and U.S. European Command (EUCOM) areas of responsibility (AOR), and completed a surge augment to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) AOR. He served as Flag Lt. to Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 out of Everett, Washington. He executed his Department Head tour with VP-40 where he departed as the Operations Officer.
Ashore, Christenson reported to VP-30 as a P-8A Poseidon Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot. At VP-30, he served as Instructional Systems Development Officer, Pilot Instructor-Under Training Standardization Officer, P-8A Air Refueling/Formation Lead Instructor Pilot, P-8A Production Officer, P-8A Instructor-Under-Training (IUT) Instructor, Fleet Instructor-Under-Training (FIUT) Instructor, and P-8A Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Evaluator. His efforts as P-8A Air Refueling/Formation Lead Instructor Pilot resulted in two successful P-8A squadron Air to Air Refueling transitions. He served his post Department Head tour as the Assistant Washington Placement Officer in Millington, Tenneessee. He most recently served as the Executive Officer of VP-30.
As of May 2025, he is the Executive Officer of VP-5.
Christenson’s decorations include Air Medal (First Strike/Flight Award), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and various other unit citations and campaign medals. He was awarded the 2017 Maritime Patrol Association’s Instructor Pilot of the year Award.