Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Robert "STORC" Gordon
Cmdr. Robert “STORC” Gordon is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2008, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the McIntire School. Upon graduation, he attended flight school and was designated as a naval aviator in September 2010.
Following his initial F/A-18 Hornet aircraft training with the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, Gordon reported to the “Tophatters” of VFA-14 in August 2011. While a “Tophatter”, he completed two combat deployments aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. During this tour, he received the 2013 Capt. Henry Mustin Leadership Award and the 2013 Association of Naval Aviation (ANA) President George H.W. Bush Award.
In January 2015, he reported to the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada. After completing the Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SFTI) course, he served on the TOPGUN staff as the “Air-to-Air Mission Planning” subject matter expert and was in charge of Special Projects and Tactical Development and Evaluation.
After his tour at TOPGUN, Gordon joined the “Sunliners” of VFA-81 as the Training Officer in April 2018 and made the transition to department head in June 2019. He completed two combat deployments aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel. In 2019, he was selected as the ANA Tactical Aviation Award recipient. In 2020, he was named the Naval Air Force Atlantic Lt. Cmdr. Michael Hoff Attack Aviator of the Year.
Finishing up his department head tour in August 2021, Gordon moved to Coronado, California, to serve as the VFA Readiness Officer and Special Access Program (SAP) Government Program Manager (GPM) at Naval Air Force Pacific (AIRPAC). He departed AIRPAC in July 2023 and served as the executive officer for VFA-31.
Gordon now serves as the commanding officer of VFA-31 as of August 2025.
His awards include the Air Medal (Strike/Flight), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), various other personal, unit, and service awards.