Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Andrew Dierks
Cmdr. Andrew "AJ" Dierks is a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is a 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
He completed his initial sea tour with the War Eagles of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 where he completed two deployments to the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh Fleet Areas supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Operation Active Endeavour, counter piracy operations, and anti-submarine operations. He served as a catapult and arresting gear officer onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) homeported in San Diego, California, where he completed two patrols throughout Middle East and the Western Pacific. He most recently served as the Operations Officer of VP-1 in Whidbey Island, Washington, where he helped lead the squadron during their maiden P-8A Poseidon aircraft deployment to seventh Fleet and on multiple operational detachments including SUMMEREX 21.
Ashore, he has served as Naval Flight Officer Training Officer for the P-3C Orion Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), VP-30, as the MPRA Sea Detailer at PERS-43 in Millington, Tennessee, and as a Congressional Liaison for the Navy to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees as part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller.
In June of 2023, he assumed the duty as executive officer of VP-8. In June of 2024, he assumed the duty as commanding officer of VP-8.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various Campaign, Service and Unit awards.