Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Thomas Doran
Cmdr. Thomas Doran, is a native of Whiteford, MD, and a 2003 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University and a Master in Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College. He was designated a naval aviator in 2005 and completed fleet replacement training with Patrol Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 30 in 2006.
Doran’s operational sea tours include VP-16 at NAS Jacksonville where he served as a P-3C instructor pilot; USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in Norfolk, VA as a catapult and arresting gear officer; and VP-46 for his department head tour where he served as the maintenance officer. Doran has completed multiple deployments to the 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR) and flown in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His shore assignments include a tour with VP-30 aboard NAS Jacksonville as a P-3C fleet replacement squadron instructor pilot, a tour as a student at Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL; and most recently, at Navy Personnel Command, aviation officer distribution (PERS-43) in Millington, TN where he served as the maritime patrol and reconnaissance force placement officer.
Doran returned to Jacksonville, FL in the summer of 2019 to complete the transition from the P-3C “Orion” to the P-8A “Poseidon.” In June 2020, he assumed duty as the executive officer of VP-8.
He has accrued nearly 2,200 pilot hours in the P-3C and P-8A, and his personal decorations include the Air Medal Strike/Flight (2), Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal (2), and various unit and campaign decorations.