Executive Officer
Cmdr. John C. Schnepper

Cmdr. John Schnepper is from Clayton, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Designated as a naval aviator in September 2010, he reported to the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California, for initial training in the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
 
Schnepper’s first operational tour was with the “Black Knights" of VFA-154 where he deployed onboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2014, he attended the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Course with a follow-on assignment as a strike fighter tactics instructor at Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic at NAS Oceana, Virginia.
 
In September 2017, Schnepper joined the “Red Rippers” of VFA-11 at NAS Oceana as training officer. While attached to VFA-11, he completed the squadron’s fleet operational readiness plan onboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as they prepared for Fifth Fleet operations.
 
After completion of his tour at VFA-11, Schnepper reported to the “Black Aces” of VFA-41 as a department head in May 2018.  While with the “Black Aces,” he deployed onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of Operations Freedom's Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. He served as the administration, operations, and maintenance department head.
 
Following his department head tour, Schnepper joined the “Gladiators” of VFA-106 as training officer in January 2021. Responsible for training the fleet’s most junior aviators, his department revamped an aging training syllabus while creating over 50 fleet F/A-18 pilots and 25 weapons system operators. Schnepper reported to the “Golden Warriors” of VFA-87 as executive officer in January 2023.
 
Schnepper has accumulated over 2,100 flight hours and 475 carrier arrested landings.