Cmdr. Benjamin S. Orloff
Cmdr. Benjamin Orloff was commissioned on May 27, 2005 through the United States Naval Academy. Following additional studies at the United States Air Force Institute of Technology, he attended flight training and was designated a naval aviator in May 2008.
As a junior officer with the “Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, he deployed in May 2010 aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During this time he participated in long-duration combat missions as close air support and armed reconnaissance for coalition ground troops.
After his selection to the United States Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, Orloff graduated in 2013 prior to a follow-on tour as a developmental test pilot with the “Dust Devils” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California. There he was involved in direct attack weapon testing; RADAR performance improvements; weapon systems integration; Tomahawk, LRASM, and Naval Strike Missile chase; and aircraft software development.
Upon returning to the fleet in October 2015, Orloff was assigned as a department head with the “Valions” of VFA-15 conducting maintenance phase training. Following that squadron’s deactivation, he was assigned a second department head tour with the “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34, and deployed in 2017 and 2018 aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) attached to CVW-2. During these deployments to the Western Pacific, he participated in freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea, peacetime operations off the Korean peninsula, and a Rim of the Pacific exercise. While the squadron’s maintenance and operations officer, he oversaw the squadron’s successful transition from the F/A-18C to the F/A-18E.
After his operational tour, he was assigned to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation in November 2019. As a staff officer within the Implementation and Multinational Solutions section, Orloff coordinated international cooperatives of capability development, innovation, and standardization within the Alliance to ensure the future success of NATO’s military instrument of power.
In May 2022, Orloff reported for duty as the executive officer with the “Rampagers” of VFA-83.
Orloff has accumulated over 2,200 flight hours in 23 different aircraft and has completed over 400 carrier arrestments during his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) and a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Strike Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of 2nd Award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of 3rd Award), as well as numerous campaign and service awards.