Executive Officer
Cmdr. AJ Dierks

Cmdr. 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.

Dierks completed his initial sea tour with the “War Eagles” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 where he completed two deployments to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and 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 deployment to the 7th Fleet and multiple operational detachments including SUMMEREX 21.

Ashore, Dierks has served as naval flight officer training officer for the P-3C Fleet Replacement Squadron and VP-30, the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (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, Dierks assumed the duty as executive officer of VP-8.

Dierks’s 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.