Executive Officer
Cmdr. Justin "Scraps" Grofik
Cmdr. Justin C. Grofik is a native of Indialantic, Florida. He graduated from the University of Michigan in April 2009, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. He was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for flight training in July 2009. He earned his naval aviator wings in February 2012. In March 2012, he reported to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, the “Flying Eagles,” for initial fleet training as an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft pilot.
He began his operational flying in March 2013 with the “Knighthawks” of VFA-136 on board NAS Oceana, Virginia. While a Knighthawk, he made one deployment aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) participating in Operation Inherent Resolve.
After his time with the Knighthawks, he reported back to the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122 as a flight instructor. During his time at VFA-122, he served as Assistant Operations Officer, Head Schedules Officer, and the West Coast F/A-18 Hornet aircraft Demonstration Team Lead. Following instructor duty, Grofik was hand selected to serve as carrier air wing landing signal officer for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 embarked aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
He then returned to the fleet as a Department Head with VFA-137, the “Kestrels.” While with the Kestrels, he completed one deployment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Octave Quartz, serving as the Admin, Maintenance, and Operations Officer.
Following his department head tour, he served as an action officer for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) J-7. While at USSOCOM, he served as the Lessons Learned Branch Chief as well as Executive Officer for the USSOCOM J-7.
He was selected for squadron command in March 2023 and reported to VFA-37 as Executive Officer in August 2025.
Grofik has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in the T-34 Mentor, T-45 Goshawk, and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft and over 400 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service awards and ribbons.