Executive Officer
Cmdr. Craig Almond
A native of Minden, Louisiana, Cmdr. Almond graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2008, earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. He reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for primary flight training in October 2008 with the VT-4 “Warbucks” followed by VP-30 “Pro’s Nest” in Jacksonville, Florida for initial fleet training as a P-3C Navigator/Communicator. He earned his Naval Flight Officer “Wings of Gold” in March 2010.
Cmdr. Almond began his operational flying in June 2010 with the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5. During his time at VP-5 he made two deployments to the U.S. 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Active Endeavour, Operation Unified Protector, Operation Odyssey Dawn, counter piracy operations, and anti-submarine operations. During this tour VP-5 was among the first squadrons to transition to the P-8A Poseidon in 2013.
In October 2013, Cmdr. Almond reported to VP-30 “Pro’s Nest” where he served as a Fleet NATOPS Evaluator and Naval Flight Officer Instructor-Under-Training and Standardization Officer. While attached to VP-30, he completed the P-8A Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in November of 2015, and graduated from the University of Florida where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree December 2016. Cmdr. Almond reported to OPNAV Sea Duty Component Detachment Dallas in February 2017 where he served as Operations Officer and NATOPS Instructor during developmental test of the Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS). In February 2019, Cmdr. Almond reported to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven staff as the assistant operations officer.
Cmdr. Almond returned to the Fleet May 2020 as a department head with the “Tridents” of VP-26. There, he completed two AAS P-8A Poseidon deployments to 7th Fleet along with multiple operational detachments serving as CTG operations officer, administrative department head, and operations officer.
Most recently, Cmdr. Almond served as 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. While on the FMBE staff, he directly supported Congressional travel and high-level international engagements, as well as overseeing the appropriations accounts for aircraft procurement, weapons procurement, and ammunition procurement for the Navy. He was selected for command in March 2023 and reported to the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School as executive officer in October 2024.
Cmdr. Almond has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in the P-3C and P-8A. His awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as various service awards and ribbons.