Commanding Officer
Cmdr. J. Tyrel "Lar" Younts
Cmdr. Tyrel Younts is a native of central Ohio. He attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio, graduating in 2007. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in February 2008 and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination. He completed primary flight training in the T-6 Texan II at Vance Air Force Base, Enid Oklahoma, and completed intermediate and advanced flight training in the T-45 Goshawk at NAS Meridian, Mississippi. He earned his wings of gold in April 2010. He then reported to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, the “Flying Eagles,” at NAS Lemoore, California, in May 2010 for initial training in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
Younts began his operational flying in August 2011 with VFA-2, the “Bounty Hunters,” at NAS Lemoore, where he served as Air to Surface Weapons and Tactics Officer, Aircraft Division Officer, and Assistant NATOPS Officer, while earning qualifications as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), Forward Air Controller (FAC(A)), and Rescue Mission Commander (RMC). While assigned to VFA-2, he completed one around the world Combat deployment aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and flew in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then embarked on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), completing work-ups and flying in support of Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2014.
Upon completing RIMPAC with VFA-2, he returned to VFA-122 in August 2014 as an instructor pilot, serving also as Avionics/Armament Division Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Schedules Officer, and FAC(A) Program Manager.
In May 2017 he was screened and selected for a joint tour at the 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component (1st JSOAC), Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served as a fires planning officer, completing two deployments in support of multiple joint task forces. He also helped to plan air support for several Jaded Edge and Jaded Thunder exercises.
After completing his 1st JSOAC tour, he attended Aviation Safety School in Pensacola, Florida and reported toVFA-81 the “Sunliners,” at NAS Oceana, Virginia in October of 2019. He served as Aviation Safety Officer, Safety Department head, Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer. While assigned to VFA-81, he completed two full deployments aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and flew in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, as well as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations in Europe. Additionally, during his time with the Sunliners, he completed the requirements and earned qualification as a SFWT Level IV Instructor and an Air Wing Strike Lead.
At the completion of his tour with the Sunliners, he reported to Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Detachment Norfolk, NSA Hampton Roads, Virginia. While assigned to CNAF, He served as the F-35C Requirements Officer. As of July 2024, he has assumed the role and responsibilities of Commanding Officer of VFA-143.
He has accumulated more than 2000 flight hours, has over 400 Carrier arrested landings, and has completed 23 combat missions. His awards include the Strike Flight Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with “C” device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service and unit awards.