Executive Officer
Cmdr. William E. Dann
Cmdr. William E. Dann is a native of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and earned his commission from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering in 2007.
Following initial aviation training, he earned his wings of gold in May 2009, and reported to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 for qualification in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. He then received orders to the “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2 at NAS Lemoore, California where he served as a division officer and landing signals officer for two combat deployments from 2010-2013 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Dann was then selected to attend the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down, United Kingdom, and graduated in 2014 as the Hawker Hunter Trophy recipient. Upon completion, he reported to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, where he served as a developmental test project officer and landing signals officer in the carrier suitability department from 2015-2017. His projects included the advanced arresting gear system on USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), precision landing modes for the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft, and certifications of the precision approach and landing systems on all fleet aircraft carriers. He was awarded the 2016 VX-23 Test Pilot of the Year while earning a master’s degree in systems engineering through the Naval Postgraduate School.
Following his test tour, Dann attended the Naval War College and completed a master’s degree in national defense studies with distinction in 2018. He then received orders to return to VFA-2, where he served as the safety officer, administration officer, and operations officer through multiple Western Pacific sustainment exercises and readiness detachments. In 2020, he was selected as an Olmsted Scholar to learn Portuguese and achieved a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, in 2023. Following requalification training in the Super Hornet at VFA-106, he reported to the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, in April 2024 as the executive officer.
Dann has flown over 2000 hours in 30 different fixed and rotary wing aircraft. His awards include Strike Flight Air Medals (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.