Executive Officer
Cmdr. Brandon S. Rodgers
Cmdr. Brandon S. Rodgers started his Navy career after leaving Hudsonville, Michigan for the Troy MEPS office, inbound to RTC Great Lakes on August 23, 2001. He graduated as an honor recruit and subsequently graduated as one of the top of his class in Gunner’s Mate “A” School prior to departing for BUD/S. He applied for the STA-21 program pilot designator, while serving on the USS Briscoe (DD 977) and USS Ramage (DDG 61) as a VLS technician, armorer, and crew-served weapons team lead in support of the “Shock and Awe” campaign and escorts through the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
He earned his bachelor’s in physics with a minor in mathematics and military leadership from Old Dominion University while serving as part of the NROTC unit as an officer candidate. After graduation, he completed flight school and started his operational flying career in September 2011 as a junior officer in Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143. He served as the Coffee Mess, Public Affairs, Line Division, and Quality Assurance Officer. He deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and departed at the end of his 3-year tour to attend TOPGUN. During his time at the course, he received the Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic (CSFWL) Speicher award.
Rodgers joined the cadre of tacticians at Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic and served as the Defensive Countermeasures and Surface to Air Threat and Counter tactics subject matter expert as well as the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program Director. He departed in February 2017 to serve as the training officer for VFA-87 in support of Operation InherenT Resolve. During his second year, he was awarded the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 and VFA-87 “Pilot of the Year” award.
He subsequently served as the Administration, Maintenance, and Operations Department Head in VFA-27 in Iwakuni, Japan in support of operations in the Indo-Pacific AOR for two deployments, including challenging deployed operational environments created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon completion of his tour, he was assigned to Navy Personnel Command (NPC) in May 2021.
While at NPC, he served as the east coast and Japan FA-18 Placement Officer and Assistant O-6 Assignments Officer, managing major command training pipeline requirements. He supported major command, O-5 command, Department Head, NFO-to-Pilot, and warfare transition screen boards while earning his Master’s degree in joint air operations from the USAF Command and Staff College.
Rodgers has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours in the F/A-18A-F aircraft and has either visited or supported operations in 29 countries over the course of seven deployments. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various service awards and ribbons.