Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Mitchell G. Parmentier
Cmdr. Mitchell “TACO” Parmentier is a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2006, with a Bachelor of Arts in History degree. He attended Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned in May 2008. Upon commissioning, he reported to Pensacola, Florida, for Naval Flight Officer training and earned his “Wings of Gold” in February 2010. He then completed initial F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft training with the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia.
Parmentier began his operational career with the “Diamondbacks” of VFA-102 as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Atsugi, Japan. From 2011 to 2014, he completed three Western Pacific deployments aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and qualified as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Forward Air Controller (Airborne), and Mission Commander.
Following his first fleet tour, he attended the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in Fallon, Nevada. In 2014, he reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9 the “Vampires” at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, where he served as Training Officer. During this assignment, he led numerous operational test efforts on advanced software and weapons systems to include Air Intercept Missile (AIM) 9X Block II Sidewinder, the H-12 System Configuration Set, and the AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and coordinated tactics development initiatives with Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) and TOPGUN.
In May 2017, Parmentier reported to the “Black Knights” of VFA-154 at NAS Lemoore, California, as Operational Training Officer. He subsequently deployed with CVW-11 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of U.S. 5th Fleet operations and Operation Inherent Resolve.
Selected for Department Head, he returned to VFA-102 in 2019 and completed two additional deployments aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) with CVW-5. During this tour, he supported U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet operations, including Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and qualified as Air Wing Strike Lead, Air Interdiction Mission Commander, and Rescue Mission Commander.
In 2021, Parmentier reported to NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum, Netherlands, where he served in the J-5 Directorate as Tool for Operational Planning, Force Activation and Support (TOPFAS) Functional Manager. He assumed duties as Executive Officer of VFA-11 in July 2024.
He ass assumed the duties as Commanding Officer of VFA-11 in October 2025.
Parmentier has accumulated more than 2,800 flight hours and over 700 carrier arrested landings. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards.