DCAG
Capt. Martin N. Fentress, Jr.
Capt. Martin N. Fentress, Jr., a native of Norfolk, Virginia, graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He received a commission through the Navy’s Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in February 2001. He became a naval flight officer in December 2002.
In May 2003, Fentress reported to the “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 124. He deployed in September 2005 with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During this tour Captain Fentress graduated from Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Air Intercept Control (AIC) course.
In May 2006, Fentress reported to TOPGUN as the AIC officer, Command & Control subject matter expert, and Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) journal editor. Fentress returned to VAW-124, April 2009 as the training officer. During this tour, he led a three-aircraft detachment in an unplanned deployment in support of Operation Unified Response providing Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief to the victims of an earthquake in Haiti.
In June 2011, Fentress reported to the “Bluetails” of VAW-121. He deployed twice with CVW-7 onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Fentress was selected as a 2012 Navy and Marine Association Peer Leadership award recipient.
In December 2013, he reported to United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Resources Directorate (J1/8), as strategic resources analyst and later served as executive assistant to the director, resources directorate. Fentress then returned to the Hawkeye/Greyhound Fleet Replacement Squadron, VAW-120 as executive officer in December 2015.
In May 2018, Fentress joined VAW-121 as executive officer. Deployed onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), he assumed command in July 2019 where the Bluetails then received the coveted Battle “E”. He was selected as a 2019 Navy and Marine Corps Peer Leadership award recipient.
In October 2020, he reported to Navy Personnel Command (PERS 43) as Commander TACAIR assignments officer and later assigned as head aviation assignments officer. He was selected as a 2020 Navy and Marine Corps Peer Leadership award recipient. In December 2021, Fentress returned again to the Greyhawks of VAW-120 as their commanding officer.
In March 2023, he arrived at CVW-7 to assume the duties as deputy commander. He has accumulated 2,700+ flight hours in the E-2, F/A-18, and F-16.